Report to: General Committee                                            Report Date: June 15, 2009

 

 

SUBJECT:                   Maintenance Buildings & Public Washrooms in Community Parks

PREPARED BY:        Linda Irvine, Manager Parks and Open Space Development

                                       Mark Ingwersen, District Manager West, Operations Department

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

 

  1. That the report entitled ‘Maintenance Buildings & Public Washrooms in Community Parks’ be received; and,

 

  1. That the “Policy on Satellite Park Maintenance Buildings in Community Parks (with Public Washrooms as appropriate)” identified in this report be approved;

 

  1. That the “Policy on Public Washrooms in Community Parks” identified in this report be approved;

 

  1. That the Manager of Parks and Open Space Development be authorized to proceed with the design and construction of the following approved Capital Projects in accordance with the policies noted herein:

·        81-5350-6644-005 – Berczy Community Park Pavilion and Maintenance Building;

·        81-5350-8221-005 – Mount Joy Pedestrian Bridge and Maintenance Building, and;

·        81-5350-7628-005 – Villages of Fairtree Washroom Building

 

  1. That Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

 

 

 

 

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to provide Council with an understanding of the benefits, needs and requirements to provide park maintenance buildings and public washrooms in Community Parks, to seek Council’s approval of policies relating to their implementation and operation and to seek Council’s authorization for staff to proceed with the design and construction of three approved capital projects.

 

BACKGROUND:

Hierarchy of Parks:

Parks in the Town of Markham are generally classified as Town Parks, Community Parks, Neighbourhood Parks or Parkettes.

 

A Town Park (such as Milne Park) provides the types of amenities and facilities that will attract residents from all across the Town.

 

A Community Park (such as Berczy Park or Milliken Mills Park), is typically a large park serving a large community. It often has a number of large sports fields as well as some type of park pavilion which provides an area for public gathering, picnic tables and seating, shade and shelter, utility rooms, and storage areas.

 

A Neighbourhood Park is a medium sized park that usually has a gazebo or trellis, as well as a sports field and playground for use by the surrounding neighbourhood.

 

A Parkette is generally on a smaller parcel of land that will not support a sports field, but may have a junior playground and may also have a small gazebo, for use by a localized area.

 

Existing or Planned Community Parks:

The Town of Markham has a series of Community Parks that are built, under construction or in the planning stage. Community Parks are built or planned for in the new communities of Berczy, Wismer, Greensborough, Villages of Fairtree, Box Grove, Cornell and Markham Centre. They are also proposed in association with community centres such as the Angus Glen Community Centre and Library and the South East Community Centre and Library. These Community Parks generally range in size from 15 acres to 65 acres and provide a range of both passive and active recreational uses including soccer fields, ball fields, cricket pitches, tennis courts and water play facilities. As per current operational practice, Group Leaders are assigned to Community Parks to supervise local seasonal staff and all operational activities.  

 

Existing Public Washrooms in Community Parks:

Currently there are seasonal use public washrooms in two Community Parks and one Town-wide park: Milliken Mills Park (open when staff is on duty); Toogood Pond Pavilion (opened, monitored and closed by the concession operator); and Milne Park (open when staff is on duty). There is also a public washroom in Millennium Park (open when staff is on duty) which is a neighborhood park with a water play facility directly across from the Civic Centre.

 

Existing Satellite Maintenance Buildings in Community Parks:

The Operations Department has satellite maintenance buildings for seasonal parks maintenance staff at Milliken Mills Community Park, Milne Park, Centennial Community Park and Bishops Cross Park.  These spaces were provided to allow a staff presence on site at these major Community Parks.  A full time Group Leader and additional staff work at these locations to provide evening / weekend maintenance activities, including opening /closing and cleaning of the public washrooms.

 

 

OPTIONS/ DISCUSSION:

A discussion on the benefits, needs, service level requirements, and recommended policies related to park maintenance buildings and public washrooms in Community Parks is as follows:

 

Service Level Requirements of Public Washrooms in Community Parks:

Community Parks attract users from the broader community and many users drive to these parks to participate in local sports groups or sports tournaments. Because of the large number of individuals who use these parks and their facilities, as well as the fact that users come from all areas of the Town, washroom facilities are required.

 

At a recent public meeting at the Angus Glen Community Centre to discuss the Town’s Integrated Leisure Master Plan, residents frequently commented on the lack of public washroom facilities in Community Parks.

 

Recommended Policy on Public Washrooms in Community Parks:

Staff recommends that, generally, public washrooms be provided in Community Parks in conjunction with park pavilions or in conjunction with park maintenance facilities where it is feasible and operationally prudent to do so. The Park Development Section of Planning and Urban Design and the Operations Department will work together to determine the preferred location, design and functional model for each Community Park. Capital funding for each of these facilities will be requested through the Town’s annual budget process. Operations staff will continue to provide “portable toilets on a seasonal basis”, when operational or special event requirements demand.

 

Park pavilions (with washrooms) are recommended for: Berczy Community Park North; Wismer Community Park East; Cornell Community Park; Angus Glen Community Park; South East Community Centre Park; Villages of Fairtree Community Park; Box Grove Community Park; and, Markham Centre’s Central Park.  Capital budgets are currently approved for park pavilions with public washrooms in Berczy Community Park (north) and Villages of Fairtree Community Park.

 

 

Service Level Requirements of Satellite Park Maintenance Buildings (with public washrooms where appropriate):

Satellite Park Maintenance Buildings provide room for equipment storage, material storage, staff and public washrooms, as well as other more qualitative advantages including a daily presence in the park to monitor and assist users with any problems or concerns that they may have.  The higher concentration of sports fields in Community Parks is subject to a higher level of use and therefore prone to increased wear and tear.  It is beneficial to have staff on site to monitor the park daily to ensure that the park, playgrounds and sports fields are kept in good working order and in a safe condition.

 

The use of fully staffed park maintenance buildings with public washrooms at Community Parks has many advantages:

  • allows staff to report directly to site each day, eliminating the need for rental trucks and trailers; 
  • allows staff to work not only in the Community Parks, but also other parks and boulevards in the area without the use of trucks and trailers; 
  • staff is stationed directly at Community Parks which provides a higher level of service and staff is able to immediately respond to user’s needs and/or maintenance and service requirements;
  • increased efficiencies are achieved through reduction in travel time and allows for daily litter/garbage cleanup and daily maintenance of the sports field facilities that tend to be in higher concentration in Community Parks, and;
  • availability of public washrooms from approximately 7:30 a.m. until 9:00p.m., 7 days a week.

Where permanent public washrooms are required, public washrooms can be provided and efficiently maintained in Community Parks in conjunction with either park pavilions or with park maintenance facilities where it is feasible and operationally prudent to do so.

 

 

Recommended Policy on Satellite Park Maintenance Building in Community Parks (with Public Washrooms as appropriate):

Staff recommends that, generally, satellite park maintenance buildings (with public washrooms as appropriate) be provided in Community Parks where it is feasible and operationally prudent to do so. The Park Development Section of Planning and Urban Design and the Operations Department will work together to determine the preferred location, design and functional model for each Community Park. Capital funding for each of these facilities will be requested through the Town’s annual budget process. 

 

Satellite park maintenance buildings (with public washrooms) are recommended for: Berczy Community Park South; Wismer Community Park West; Cornell Community Park; Box Grove Community Park; and, Markham Centre’s Central Park. A capital budget is currently approved for park maintenance facilities with public washrooms in Berczy Community Park (south).

 

Satellite park maintenance buildings (without public washrooms) are currently planned for: Mount Joy Community Park in Greensborough; South East Community Centre Park; and, Angus Glen Community Park.  Washrooms will be available in the adjacent Community Centres at these locations. A capital budget is currently approved for a park maintenance facility without public washrooms in Mount Joy Community Park.

 

 

Self-cleaning Toilet Units Are Not Recommended:

Vancouver, Toronto, and Seattle are three North American cites that have implemented self-cleaning toilets on a pilot basis. These modern stainless steel facilities are about the size of a bus shelter, automatically sterilize the floors, sinks and toilets after each use and typically provide one toilet for use by both men and women.

 

The cost to purchase these toilet units ranges from $300,000 to $500,000 per single toilet. Servicing and site development costs are additional costs.  A traditionally plumbed washroom has a similar cost but will typically come with multiple toilet stalls and gender specific washrooms for the same price.

 

In Toronto, these toilets will cost the public a dollar per use. The purchase and operation of these toilets is funded in conjunction with a larger street furniture advertising program. The cost to maintain the toilets is considered a “loss leader” for the advertising contractors subsidised by the balance of their larger city wide advertising contract.  In cities where there is not similar revenue generation opportunity, the municipality bears the entire cost of the toilets (such as in Seattle).  Seattle has since abandoned their self cleaning washrooms due to their high operational cost.

 

In a self cleaning toilet, the seat and floor are self sanitizing but the requirements to monitor and manually clean the enclosure of debris (remove discarded coffee cups, paper, diapers, etc.) several times daily, remains just as with a standard public washroom.  As the unit’s mechanical system is more complex than a standard plumbed washroom, the servicing and repair may be more frequent and costly.  The effect of not adequately maintaining the mechanical systems of these units has been known to be dramatic, sometimes at the risk of a user’s safety and privacy. The major constraint of a self-cleaning unit is that it has a limited capacity on a cost comparison basis.  A traditionally plumbed washroom can accommodate many more users during a peak demand period than a self cleaning unit for the same cost.  Staff recommends that self-cleaning toilets not be installed in Community Parks.

 

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND TEMPLATE: (external link)

 

Capital Cost Implications of Public Washrooms and Satellite Maintenance Buildings:

Public washrooms and satellite maintenance buildings are forecast in the Development Charges By-law and are funded through development charges (90%) and operational funding (10%). Long term capital replacement costs are provided through the Town’s Life Cycle Reserve.

 

 

Operational Cost Implications of Public Washrooms and Satellite Maintenance Buildings:

As part of the Town’s current operational model, a full time Group Leader is assigned at Community Parks to supervise local seasonal staff and, in conjunction with seasonal staff, to provide full time park services during weekdays, evenings and weekends as required, including opening/closing and cleaning of the public washrooms where required. There are no additional staffing resource requirements to provide public washrooms and satellite maintenance buildings in Community Parks. Minimal additional costs are required for supplies such as cleaning products, toilet paper, paper towels etc.

 

 

ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PRIORITIES:

Municipal Services:

  • Increased efficiency
    • reduced dead-head time traveling from Parks Yard to work sites
    • ability to service additional parks and boulevard areas within the general vicinity of the Community Park
    • ability for staff to meet service delivery demands for Community Parks
  • 7 days/week park and field maintenance
  • Provision of public washrooms where there is a demand and programming need
  • Cost avoidance for additional landscape trailers and seasonal vehicles to service immediate area

 

Environment:

  • Sustainable approach to parks maintenance activities
  • Reductions in GHG emissions by eliminating additional vehicles and related travel time between Parks yards and work sites

 

Growth Management:

The current community planning model provides for Community Parks in each of Markham’s new communities.

 

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

Planning and Urban Design, Asset Management, Finance and Operations were consulted in the preparation of this report.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RECOMMENDED

 

            BY:        _____________________          __________________________

                                      Peter Loukes,                                  Brenda Librecz,

                                      Director, Operations                       Commissioner, Community & Fire Services

 

 

 

 

 

   ____________________             ________________________

                                      Ronji Borooah,                                Jim Baird,

                                      Town Architect, Planning                Commissioner, Development 

                                      & Urban Design                              Services

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS:

Appendix A: Summary Table of Existing and Proposed Facilities

Appendix B: Schedule and Map of Proposed Public Washrooms

Appendix C: Schedule and Map of Proposed Satellite Park Maintenance Buildings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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