The lack of public bathrooms in the Big Apple is one of the constant complaints expressed by thousands of New Yorkers who, on more than one occasion, when their bodies can’t take it anymore, have had to juggle to handle the situation, or even the most daring ones. , use prohibited areas to free yourself.
And after recognizing that New York City does not have sufficient public bathroom service, Mayor Eric Adams announced this Monday that in the next five years, almost a hundred toilet and personal hygiene sites will be built and renovated in the five boroughs, which he defined as another example of equity for New Yorkers.
The 82 bathrooms, 46 new and 36 to be renovated, will be available in parks throughout the city and 14 additional automatic units will be installed over the next two years. A total of 10 bathrooms will be placed in The Bronx, 23 in Brooklyn, 28 in Manhattan, 14 in Queens and seven in Staten Island.
“Part of making New York City a more livable city is addressing the little things, the things we don’t think about until we need them. And access to public bathrooms is high on that list, maybe even number one or two,” Mayor Adams said at his Manhattan announcement.
“We have already added changing tables in all NYC Parks public restrooms where possible, three years ahead of schedule. The new and renovated bathrooms that we will deliver over the next five years will make it easier for New Yorkers to embrace the best parts of this city: our shared outdoor spaces,” added the president, who, in response to the complaint of existing bathrooms that remain dirty and in poor hygiene conditions, he called for citizen attitude and regret that common spaces must be cared for and kept clean.
In addition to the announcement of the new bathrooms, which will be added to the almost 1,000 that operate in the five boroughs, Mayor Adams assured that Google Maps will now show the exact places where there will be toilet services when someone is on the street and the need requires it. urge.
New York City Parks Commissioner Sue Donoghue warned that New Yorkers deserve accessible and well-maintained public bathrooms, and assured that Monday’s announcement is a sign of the City Administration’s commitment to that need.
“We are complying. “New York City Parks is leading the way with innovative initiatives and partnerships to build these vital public resources more quickly and efficiently,” the official said. “By creatively providing new and improved restrooms to New Yorkers in all five boroughs, we ensure that visitors to our parks can access the amenities they need, when they need them.”
The president of the borough of Manhattan, Mark Levine, warned that not only the initiative to build more bathrooms in parks and children’s play areas will help deal with one of the great needs that New Yorkers experience every day when they leave their homes, but he also highlighted that information about locations can be obtained through Google Maps.
“Every New Yorker knows the importance of having a clean and accessible public restroom. Ensuring access to more public bathrooms throughout the city creates more equitable, healthy and livable communities for all of us,” said the Manhattan political leader. “It is very positive to pursue strategies to expand access to public restrooms, including building and installing new restrooms, reopening restrooms, and ensuring that all New Yorkers know where there is an accessible public restroom near them.”
The commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation, Ydanis Rodríguez, assured that with the new bathrooms the Big Apple continues to make progress in the transformation of public spaces.
“The Adams administration is reimagining our streets by creating more public plazas than ever before, and expanding access to public restrooms makes these spaces more welcoming and creates a more hospitable environment for everyone who lives, works and visits the city. from New York,” Rodríguez said. “We are excited to participate in this new task force to install 14 new automated public toilets as part of this broader effort to improve access to bathrooms.”
Plan for new public bathrooms in NYC parks in numbers
- $150 million will be invested
- 82 new renovated bathrooms will be added in the next five years
- 14 automatic toilets will be installed in the next two years
- 10 bathrooms will be installed in The Bronx
- 23 in Brooklyn
- 28 in Manhattan
- 14 in Queens
- 7 in Staten Island
- There are 1,000 public bathrooms in NYC