We arrived in Portland mid-day on Tuesday, caught the light rail from the airport to the Pioneer Courthouse Square downtown, then walked a block to the conference hotel (the Portland Hilton).
The square, a downtown landmark, is mostly closed for renovations.
But as we walked past the square, I saw this notice on one of the construction fences. Here in Portland, with this central public park and its restrooms closed for renovations, the public was provided a clear notice, along with a list of alternate public restrooms AND a map showing their locations.
I doubt it cost much additional to add this message to the fence. But it took an attitude towards serving the public that is sorely lacking in Honolulu. Back home, I doubt city planners wouldn’t even have thought of such a thing.
This is one reason to travel. We get some perspective on our situation at home. Too often we find that Honolulu is far from a progressive city.
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Ian: in many recent visits to foreign cities, I observed that the public parks and locations are kept in excellent condition and maintenance. It is sad that Ala Moana Park, Kapiolani, the U.H., and other public places are poorly maintained, weed and trash-strewn, broken drinking fountains and dirty restrooms. With a huge Parks department, there should be more bang for the bucks. Some community organizations have been stepping up and recruting volunteers for cleanups at parks and shorelines as a result.
On what basis are you making the declaration that our local parks dept is “huge?” Huge in personnel? Huge in budget? Just curious.
And if you want to get more “bang for the buck” when it comes to routine park maintenance, it might help if our city admin is open to the idea of using privatized labor. Lots of yard service companies looking for work out there. But if we keep electing mayors and city council members who are in bed with the unions, well, you figure out what the end result will be.
I haven’t done any in depth study or anything about the Parks Dept. or the city budget, but understand it employs over 1,000 and has a budget of over $60 million. That’s “huge” to me. I also understand that UH has a separate budget for its maintenance. Our flagship campus is a disgrace. If anyone visits U of Washington, or any other public universities on the mainland you will see the great difference.
I appreciate your ongoing attention to the issue of public restrooms, and I hope you continue to pursue it.
I am curious about “Portland Loos”, #2 on the sign listing the alternate public restrooms. Three street locations are listed under that heading. What is Portland Loos? Could you check that out?
https://www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/59293
Portland Loos are simple, sturdy flush toilet kiosks located in public areas. The loos are free to the public and accessible around the clock every day of the year. Portland Loos give the community clean, safe, and environmentally-friendly restroom facilities.
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Hi Zigzaguant,
I recommended the Portland Loos model to Honolulu city council members 2 years ago. This was the response:
“Thanks for your feedback on Resolution 13-293! Yes, we’ve heard from the manufacturer of the Portland Loo, and anticipate working with City agencies/community stakeholders to review a variety of alternatives to meet the need for public restroom facilities.
Please contact Linda Oamilda or Lori Kunioka of my staff if you have additional questions. We will be including more information about potential technologies, operating sites and recommendations in the committee report for the resolution; and it will come to the full Council on January 29, 2014.
mahalo,
Carol Fukunaga”
correction: this city council email is from January 2014
I do think the homeless situation has more than a little to do with the deterioration of our parks. And then there are the vandals who regularly destroy the public restrooms. I don’t think the Parks department has that many people to patrol the parks 24-7.
Poorly maintained facilities are like magnets to vandals. The feeling is often expressed as some version of “If they don’t care about this place, why should we?”
(I know for a fact that it’s true, having once worked as a cottage supervisor in a home for challenging/challenged teens.)
In the City and County of Honolulu we have citizens who like to burn down portable bathrooms.
I appreciated t and Carol Fukunaga responding to my comment about the Portland Loos. It was good to learn from Ms. Fukunaga that there has been some work done on finding ways to provide public restroom facilities.
Here are three links that provide more information about Portland Loos and their pros and cons:
http://theloo.biz/
http://www.businessinsider.com/portland-loo-perfect-public-toilet-2016-10
http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/08/10/431240543/san-diego-installed-public-loos-but-now-theyre-flush-with-problems
“I doubt it cost much additional to add this message to the fence. But it took an attitude towards serving the public that is sorely lacking in Honolulu.”
Exactly.