When you Gotta Go - Where do you Go?
A concerned reader sends in the following comment that I have heard from several others as well as observed myself:
I'm a resident of Roosevelt Island and love living here very much. I walk a lot and have noticed this past year, that in some areas, the sweet smells of the salt water wafting from the river have been replaced with the revolting smells of urine. I, quite frequently, see men ducking behind bushes and around corners of buildings to relieve themselves. Uncomfortable for me, and them I'm sure when spotted. I've also been approached several times by women, visiting the island for the day either picnicking at Lighthouse Park or here to play sports, asking where the restrooms are. The answer is obvious if you're near Octagon park. I direct them to the public restrooms, which seem to be locked more often than not. What about the people at Lighthouse Park? Where are they suppose to go? At the moment, the majority of them use the back parking area of Coler as their personal restrooms, men and women alike. There is one port-a-potty near there that is locked all of the time. Can we install port-a-potties down there that are available to the public or better yet a more permanent facility? I understand that port-a-potties are not the most attractive solution, but a solution non the less. I love our island and want our visitors to respect our little paradise, and not piss all over it.The above picture is of the Mannekin Pis, a Brussels Belgium landmark that I saw many years ago but never thought would one day be used to illustrate a point of concern to Roosevelt Island. It just goes to show that one never knows when some piece of information learned long ago could be of use.
3 comments :
Yes, please. We need some public restrooms. The smell especially at the lighthouse where anglers relieve themselves is unbearable in the summer. They just tinkle against the lighthouse wall and leave puddles.
There is supposed to be a public restroom at the soccer field by the gardens. Not sure if it is usually open or not (I did see people go in and come out from there).
The answer is partially that RIOC be strongly requested to (1) keep the tram bathrooms open between 8am and 8pm for that section of the island and (2) that perhaps they consider buying two of those nifty free standing johns placing one each at (a) Lighthouse Park and (b) the second somewhere between Gristedes and Capobianco Field for those that cannot make it up to the public loo by the Octagon Park. Perhaps by the unused bike racks circle just North of the bridge ramp would be a good place. Right now the message RIOC is sending is feel free to visit but make to "go" before you get here.
All you snobs mind your own business. If I want to piss on the sidewalk so be it. It dries up in a short time, no harm no foul
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