Thanks to the local parks department, I am enjoying a busman’s holiday on summer evenings and weekends this year. If you don’t recall the quaint old term, the American Heritage dictionary defines busman’s holiday as a “vacation during which one engages in activity that is similar to one’s usual work.”
In my case, the busman’s holiday involves a brand spanking new orange PolyPortables Inc. Integra portable restroom placed a few hundred feet from my backyard deck. As soon as the grass was greening up this spring, workers from 1st Choice Sanitation in Appleton, Wis., placed the restroom unit in Braisher Park, a small neighborhood park a few doors from my home … and the place the kids and I consider our playground.
For all you pro football history buffs, Braisher Park was named for George “Dad’’ Braisher, the longtime equipment manager for the Green Bay Packers who designed the famous oval “G’’ logo you see on the team’s helmet. Braisher lived nearby my De Pere, Wis., home.
But I digress far from the point of this story.
Our little park is well used all summer long by kids and families, and a city-run activity program staffs a shack where summer workers play games and make crafts with kids while school is out. The shack has a restroom that is open and available for use during limited hours when the staff is on duty. This year is the first time a portable restroom has been placed to serve park users when the shack isn’t open.
My first reaction when I saw the restroom was, “Gee, now I can actually monitor how a PRO services a unit.’’ I can keep tabs on the monthly cleanings by our local restroom contractor and watch for vandalism or graffiti from my kitchen window. The unit would be a constant reminder of my responsibilities here at PRO™.
Opportunity Knocks
Then another thought occurred to me. This restroom placement fits a pattern I’ve been noticing locally for the past year or two. Portable restrooms are more and more being used in public places where I’ve never seen them before. It seems like almost every park and recreation area I pass or visit regularly now has a portable restroom onsite.
This raises two important points for portable restroom contractors. The first is that the bar has seemingly been raised for minimum restroom facilities being demanded by the public. Frequent visitors at my neighborhood park must have complained about the limited hours of the permanent restroom facilities for the unit to be placed there. The same can be said for a frequent stopping point at a bike trail I use where a restroom popped up this spring.
Secondly, the heightened standards for sanitation service create new opportunities for PROs. No more can you assume that a local park or other public gathering spot doesn’t warrant your services. If there’s a restroom in tiny Braisher Park, the chances are good that local communities or civic groups that control public spaces in your hometown might consider renting a restroom. Maybe you’ve approached your local park director about providing restroom services in the past and were shot down. Maybe it’s time to try again.
Look around your hometown and develop a list of public places where you might suggest a portable restroom to local officials. Your suggestion might just come at the same time those officials are receiving requests for enhanced service.
Starting Point
Based on recent observations, I’ve come up with a few ideas where portable restrooms might find a new home:
Local parks
Check out every park in your area. If they don’t have restroom facilities, would they benefit from them? Would a well-placed unit cut down on kids crossing a busy street to use a restroom at a convenience store? Would a unit at a remote park provide a convenience for families and allow them to utilize the parks for longer periods? Make a case for specific placements and explain how they would be for the greater good of the public.
Bike trails
Bike trails are getting longer, busier and extending into remote areas lacking public restroom access. In my part of the world, the most popular bike trail runs more than 20 miles, stretching through upscale residential areas and remote farmland. The last thing the county parks department wants to hear about is a user relieving himself under a homeowner’s tree. Meet with trail officials and explain how 4-5 restrooms along the route would be good for both users and trailside neighbors.
Boat launches
Water quality and preservation of fishing and swimming opportunities are huge issues right now for America’s waterways. As concerns over the health of lakes and streams grow, and as beaches close due to contamination, you can make a good case for adding portable restrooms at even the smallest boat launches. Often the success or failure of a tourist community hinges on water quality and the positive experience of boaters and swimmers. If you have a summer tourism community in your service area, you need to keep an eye on these concerns.
Untapped areas
There are probably some public spots in your area that have been untapped as leads for portable sanitation companies. In my area, there is an exercise area for dogs, natural wildlife refuges, several disc golf courses and a busy compost facility that don’t have portable sanitation. Maybe there are similar out-of-the-way public places in your area that could benefit from portable sanitation. Visit these places at different times to see how busy they get. Establish a need and go to see your local officials with a solution.
