LETTER: Park Restroom Needs Better Design and Location

April 15, 2013

DEAR EDITOR,

I am writing to express concern regarding a proposed public restroom for Cape Charles Central Park from a risk management perspective, a functional perspective, and an aesthetic perspective.

While I do not disagree that public restroom facilities would be an enhancement to Central Park, I hope that decision-makers will select a more appropriate site and more architecturally appealing style for the project.

Aspects of concern include the following associated risks and functional challenges:

1. Flooding of facility:  A number of areas within Central Park and the surrounding streets are flood-prone due to lack of drainage. The proposed location is adjacent to one of the areas most prone to large pools of standing water, and the foundation trenches already dug are largely filled with standing water and a substantial, virtually constant, area of standing water threatens encroachment into the footprint.

Dangers associated include:

— Public health risk from unclean facilities contaminated with bacteria-laden, stagnant water;

— Public health risk arising from proximity to a breeding ground for mosquitoes;

— Danger of slips, trips, and falls from known hazards, i.e. moisture on walking surfaces and higher potential of algal growth on walking surfaces constantly exposed to standing water as well as slips on icy patches in cold weather.

2. Potential for assaults and other illegal transactions in an unattended facility;

3. Public nuisance and public health risk if facilities are not maintained on a daily basis and locked overnight. The question of adequate funding to support cleaning, maintenance, and supplies should be addressed before the construction is approved.

4. Location relative to need: As a neighbor to Central Park, I have had the opportunity to observe traffic in and around the park. It appears that the area in most need of restroom facilities on a year-round basis is the children’s play area near the old Cape Charles school building. Parents and children are frequent visitors to this area. Tennis courts are also located in this area, although tennis court usage seems much lower than the former basketball courts. As proposed, the restroom facilities would be quite a distance removed from the area of need.

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There appears to be a vacant area of the park next to the playground and tennis courts, well removed from flood-prone areas, that would be a more suitable and convenient location for the area of highest use. Investigation into the viability of sewer and water connections should be undertaken.

Finally, there is the aesthetics aspect. The architecture is discordant with the historic neighborhood.  The proposed design of the facility matches an industrial brick utility building standing on the corner of the park lot nearest the old Cape Charles school building.

Architecturally unredeeming and an unsightly blemish on the otherwise charming historic neighborhood, this utility building is hardly a model for new construction.

It is strongly suggested that a skilled architect be engaged to design a restroom facility in line with the historic qualities and architectural interest of the surrounding homes.

Blocked views: Great care appears to have been taken, especially on Monroe Avenue, to maintain visually appealing lines of sight down the broad avenue and through the lovely park. Placement of the restroom facilities in the spot currently planned effectively removes all possible lines of vision through the park from the 500 block of Monroe, when considered in combination with the existing brick utility building and the gazebo.

Thank you for the opportunity to express my opinions and views on the placement of public restroom facilities in Central Park. I hope care and consideration will be given to a better design and location for these needed facilities.

F. KRISTIN McCLAREN
Cape Charles

Letters to the Editor are welcome on any subject relevant to Cape Charles, and a diversity of opinions is encouraged. Letters should be original and not submitted to another publication. Send submissions to [email protected].