Public restrooms needed downtown

At the July 20 Whitefish City Council meeting, Whitefish Chamber of Commerce president Sheila Bowen expressed the observation by many citizens and visitors that Whitefish does not have a public toilet anywhere downtown.

One solution to this problem is the use of the former Park Side Federal Credit Union building at the corner in Depot Park. I'm sure there's a bathroom in that building, and I believe it is now or soon will be city property. I have heard talk that it could become home to the Whitefish Convention and Visitor Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce, an excellent plan.

If there is enough space, it would be nice if a portion be used as a youth center. There is no place downtown for kids to go and during the school term. Many are sent to the library to await pickup after school. Putting in some pingpong tables and other simple recreation or amusement facilities into the Park Side building could make that into a great place for kids to go. It would be a great use of existing facilities to solve a city problem.

Another solution to the bathroom request is to put one on the southwest corner of the new parking lot. Unfortunately, the parking lot is done, and I'm surprised that no one thought of a bathroom there before it was planned and approved.

I think we missed an opportunity several years ago when the North Valley Hospital moved to its new facility. That would have provided a great building and location for all city offices and possibly emergency services. Plenty of pre-existing rooms for offices, several of the larger areas had already been used as city meeting rooms, and the cafeteria offered many possibilities. It might have made a wonderful city office building.

The city council will address this need in due time, and we should all try to offer suggestions for a solution so they have input from the general public. Maybe some group could start a campaign for a public bathroom fund. Wasn't it private donations that put up the bathroom at Kiddie Park?

Toby Scott is a resident of Whitefish.