The city of Los Angeles is planning to put a new permanent bathroom in Runyon Canyon park, but the $1 million project is raising eyebrows among residents and park users.
The popular hiking trail currently does not have permanent bathroom facilities despite attracting millions of visitors, including tourists and celebrities, every year.
With portable restrooms having been in place for visitors, the city plans on spending $960,000 to build the facility.
While the cost may seem staggering for bathrooms, LA City Councilmember Nithya Rama’s office maintained that building a bathroom on top of a hill is not a typical construction. The price tag includes the full build-out, permitting foundation design, sewer line while making sure it’s accessible for people with disabilities.
Under the current plan, the bathroom will be placed near the Fuller Street entrances.
While it’s not clear how many stalls will be put in place, the city approved the bathroom project after seeking input from the community.
“You’re trying to do the most you can with your fitness, and then human nature, you obviously have to go,” Jose Valera, a Runyon Park visitor who supports the bathroom project, said. “It would be a great thing to have.”
But critics fear that the bathrooms would get in the way of people enjoying nature.
“You come up here, it’s green. It’s beautiful. You see the gophers.You feel the freeze. It’s restorative, and people in the city need this,” Kennon Rains, who opposes the bathroom project, said. “We don’t need the bathroom. Come up here. Enjoy the park for a period of time. If you have to use the bathroom, go down to Ralph’s.”
Others also fear the permanent bathrooms will lead to crimes and possibly fires.
“I personally will not come here if there are bathrooms,” Yulia Zava said. “It’s going to smell. It’s going to be those homeless people. It’s going to be unsafe, absolutely.”
Source: NBC Los Angeles
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