Universal washrooms are now included in plans for a modern washroom and concession building in Queen’s Park.
The city’s 2016 capital budget includes funding for the planning and design to replace the washroom and concession facility next to Rainbow Playland in Queen’s Park. A staff report states the facilities are undersized and the playground shack and concession/washroom building “have reached their end of life” and should be replaced with a building that meets contemporary needs.
The Queen’s Park master plan that was approved in 2013 recommended six female and four male toilet stalls to meet the current and future washroom demands. In recognition of the rights of transgender persons to access washroom spaces, as well as the needs of parents with children of the opposite gender, staff is proposing the washroom include 10 universal stalls, including two wheelchair-accessible stalls. The universal washrooms would have shared sinks, but separate private toilet stalls.
“The parks and recreation committee has considered the notion of universal washrooms and strongly supports the concept,” said Jay Young, manager of Queen’s Park Arenex. “Staff will be seeking formal endorsement of the universal (gender-neutral) washroom concept from council before we get into detailed washroom design. This endorsement will likely be sought in the coming two months.”
The city’s five-year capital budget, which has yet to be approved by council, includes $1.2 million for the project.
Young said the earliest construction would begin next fall. The plan is to construct the building in the same general location as the existing washroom building.
How busy is Queen’s Park playground? Check out these figures from the parks and recreation department:
* Nearly 95,000 people were counted exiting the petting farm from May 21 to Sept. 5.
* Parks staff counted between 150 and 175 people at the Queen’s Park spray park at 1 p.m. each day during this past summer.
* An average of 98 transactions per day took place at the concession stand in Queen’s Park during the 94 days it was open. Because one transaction cay pay for multiple customers, the city estimates an average 372 customers purchased food each day.
* The picnic shelters get 147 annual bookings and the bandshell has 36 annual bookings. Washroom users include visitors to the petting farm, playground, spray park and rose garden.
