Pilot project to keep a portable restroom open at Heritage Park during nighttime hours

Update

OLYMPIA – The Department of Enterprise Services today announced a pilot project to keep a portable restroom and handwashing station open at Heritage Park during nighttime hours to provide 24-hour restroom access at the state park.

The agency is working with the City of Olympia and other stakeholders to seek a collaborative, workable solution to address concerns about access to open public restrooms during nighttime hours in the Olympia area.

The pilot project will continue through June. During the pilot, the park’s regular bathrooms will be open during park hours, while the portable restroom will be open during non-park hours. The agency does not have the funding to keep the regular park bathrooms open 24 hours a day.

Park hours during the winter (November 1 - March 31) are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Park hours during the summer (April 1 - October 31) are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Enterprise Services is committed to the pilot of the portable restroom, pending people do not vandalize the restroom or create unsanitary conditions in it.

The City of Olympia has piloted portable 24-hour restrooms downtown at the Artesian Commons Park on 4th Avenue as well as near Intercity Transit on Olympia Avenue. Earlier this month, the Olympia City Council voted to install a permanent, Portland Loo restroom the Artesian Commons. The City expects installation to be complete this summer.

In the spring, the City will set up two other portable restrooms -- one on Plum Street near the Salvation Army and one on 9th Avenue near Fertile Ground.

Enterprise Services Role on Capitol Campus

Under state law, the Department of Enterprise Services is responsible for the stewardship, preservation, operation and maintenance of the 486-acre state Capitol Campus.

Hundreds of thousands of people visit the campus annually. This includes:

  • 25,000 school children on tours.
  • People attending about 630 Campus events.
  • People participating in the legislative, judicial and executive processes.
  • Visitors attending different public events nearly every day – including evenings, weekends and holidays.

In addition, some 6,000 people work and conduct public business on the Campus including state elected officials, members of the Washington Legislature and their staff.

Learn more about Capitol Campus parks and attractions.