A recent report about a problem with outdoor restrooms at Lions Club Municipal Golf Course has rebooted a discussion about the need for public restrooms at all city parks.
The El Dorado Parks and Playgrounds Commission has agreed to develop a plan to address the issue and prepare a funding request to eventually present to the El Dorado Works Board.
During an EPPC meeting last week, Danny Carelock, manager of Lions Club, told commissioners that two outdoor restrooms, one of which is on the northeast side of the golf course, can sometimes be difficult to keep clean because of a lack of potable water.
“I put water out there to pour into the (toilet) and because people don’t really use it, it gets pretty nasty out there,” Carelock said.
He said someone recently relieved himself in a trash can inside the restroom and some vandalism has occurred.
Carelock and commissioners said that while the restroom is used by golfers, walkers and runners on the walking trail that encircles the golf course, walkers use it more often.
Commissioner Alexis Alexander said the problem is not a typical occurrence at the golf course because the restrooms are currently not in working condition.
She also said some people may not understand that purpose of “a bucket of water” inside the restroom is to flush the toilet.
Robert Edmonds, director of public works, said the irrigation system will be up and running full time as the season gets into swing at the golf course, so that will alleviate part of the problem.
The commodes operate off the recycled-water irrigation system that serves Lions Club and the El Dorado Golf and Country Club golf courses as well as El Dorado School District soccer fields.
Edmonds said another fix is on the way, but it hinges on drier weather.
In December, the El Dorado City Council approved $35,000 to run power to both outdoor restrooms at Lions Club, as well as add interior and exterior lighting.
The power source will also help to regulate the temperature in the restrooms, Edmonds said.
“It’s not going to take long, but it has to dry up some. It’ll probably take two to three weeks,” he said.
The city is also exploring options to extend a water line to the restroom on the Back Nine, a project that may prove to be challenge.
Edmonds and commissioners have previously expressed concerns about costs and freezing in the wintertime.
He said the city is working to come up with a viable solution.
Parks and playgrounds Commissioner David Hurst said locking the restrooms could lead to more vandalism.
Carelock said such an incident has already occurred, telling commissioners that someone previously broke a lock off one of the restrooms.
“It’s open to the public. We just have to get it fixed,” Carelock said.
Ken Goudy, chairman of the EPPC, said vandalism has been an ongoing issue with the restrooms at Mellor Park.
“We need to get a bathroom at all city parks,” Goudy said, noting that previous discussions have fizzled out because of concerns about vandalism and the cost to install the restrooms.
In 2014, the then-El Dorado Economic Development Board approved a funding request
for a package of improvement projects that included adding restrooms to three city parks.
The El Dorado City Council tweaked the request and focused on installing new playground equipment, water fountains, landscaping and other improvements for several city parks.
Hurst said last week that he favors surveillance cameras.
City Clerk Heather McVay said she has spoken to city clerks in other Arkansas cities and learned that specially timed locks are utilized in public restrooms in some public parks around the state.
“There are a lot of ways to combat vandalism without shutting down what you want to do,” Hurst said.
Goudy suggested that the commission work with Edmonds to develop a plan to install restrooms in city parks and present a funding request to the El Dorado Works Board, which administers the city’s one-cent economic development sales tax.
Fifteen percent of tax revenues are dedicated to quality of life initiatives, including 5 percent for parks and playgrounds.
The tax, which went into effect in October 2015, is projected to generate at least $50 million in revenue during its 10-year life.
“We need to come up with a plan to use some of that tax money. That’s what it’s there for,” Goudy said.
Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at [email protected].