Since vandalism shut down Huntsville’s River Mill Park washrooms in early December, the town remains uncertain about when they will reopen.
“We do not have a reopening date at this time as the repairs are significant and have extended the time to fix them,” said Simone Babineau, the town’s director of community services.
Those repairs include replacing the doors, mechanisms, and frames, with the town now waiting on elbow components to complete the work. Babineau said there’s no cost estimate for repairs at this time.
Huntsville Coun. Helena Renwick said the washrooms may reopen in the spring, meaning SnowFest and other downtown events will rely on portable toilets and local businesses that allow restroom access until that time.
“Definitely we want to get them up and running again,” Renwick said. “We have other events coming up.”
The town is advising people to use the washrooms in the town hall, which are now open for public use from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
Staff are working with an engineer who is exploring a new door system with faster-closing mechanisms to discourage users from forcefully pulling them shut and prevent future damage.
Coun. Cory Clarke initially raised concerns about this project in September 2023. When town staff brought a report outlining two possible locations to install the facility in January 2024, Clarke reiterated his reservations about the washrooms.
“Based on the research I’d done before, I came to realize many self-clean bathrooms often break down, are not vandal-proof, and don’t stand the test of time,” Clarke said during the Jan. 29, 2024, council meeting.
As for the washroom reopening and security camera installation, the town will update the community when more information and a timeline are available.
With files from Julian Orlando Chaves.
Megan Hederson is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter covering Huntsville and Lake of Bays for MuskokaRegion.com. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.