City Spotlight: Lakewood, WA
Transforming Wards Lake Park: Finding a Creative Public Restroom Solution for a Challenging Location
How Lakewood, WA, replaced a high-maintenance facility with a vandal-resistant, low-maintenance public restroom.
The Project at a Glance
Location
Lakewood, WA (Wards Lake Park)
Setting
Park entrance, adjacent to a playground area
Primary Users
Park guests
Installation Year
2025
The Challenge
High vandalism area with limited sightlines
The Solution
Installation of one Portland Loo® prefabricated restroom with custom vinyl art wrap
Project Location
The Challenge
Wards Lake Park faced a headache common to municipalities. The existing park restroom was a traditional CMU (concrete block) restroom built in 2004. The facilities had become a burden on the city’s staff and budget. Because the site lacks natural surveillance (meaning it isn’t easily visible from nearby roads or developments), the traditional building provided too much privacy, making it a prime target for vandals. This impacted the city’s maintenance staff and frequently made the restroom unavailable for public use.
With the park’s existing restroom facilities reaching the end of their useful life and having become a magnet for vandalism, the city’s Parks Department sought a new restroom solution.
The Solution
After discovering The Portland Loo® at a WRPA (Washington Recreation & Park Association) conference, Lakewood’s Parks Director saw an opportunity for a creative pilot project.
The city chose the Loo for its open-bottom louvers and heavy-duty stainless steel construction; design factors specifically integrated to deter the vandalism that plagued their previous facility.
To truly integrate the unit into the community and discourage graffiti and other vandalism, the city commissioned a local artist to create a custom vinyl wrap, turning a functional, prefabricated restroom into a piece of public art.
The Results
Key Takeaways
Durability
The Portland Loo® solved the blind spot surveillance issue with its patented design intended to reduce vandalism and misuse.
Scalability
Based on the success of the Wards Lake Park project, the city is considering The Portland Loo® for future park development projects.
Adaptability
Despite minor delays due to local IBC code updates and electrical service upgrades, the unit was successfully integrated into a multi-phased park renovation.
Applications for The Portland Loo®
Our prefabricated restrooms are ideal for many types of environments, including:
Downtown corridors and civic centers
Waterfronts and promenades
Transit hubs and transportation corridors
High-traffic tourism areas
Commercial Spaces
Bring a Proven Public Restroom Solution to Your City
Ready to solve your city’s public restroom challenges? Let’s discuss how The Portland Loo® can work in your community.
