Brandon Leuallen, The Business Times

Local skateboarder and Grand Junction native Nick Steffens posted on Facebook on May 10 that the bathrooms at New Emerson Skatepark were not sanitary and are not being properly maintained.

In response, the City of Grand Junction said the restrooms are serviced twice a week – on Tuesdays and Fridays – by a local contractor.

The city thanked Steffens for alerting them to the issue and acknowledged temporarily closing one of the units after dispatching a city employee to assess the bathrooms until a contractor could make it out to the park to service them. The response also said some of the conditions in the complaint were not accurate.  

A group of skateboarders spoke to The Business Times at the park and said they have stopped using the bathroom facilities. They cited issues including non-skatepark users occupying them for extended periods and even finding a needle inside one of the units.

“We are very thankful for this place, and it’s frustrating when someone who doesn’t use the skatepark comes in and makes the bathroom unusable,” one skateboarder said.

Steffens said he skates at the park at least twice a week, and his concern is for the safety and sanitation of those who use the park.

When asked about the city’s response to his Facebook post, Steffens said, “ I skated Wednesday morning, and the bathrooms definitely were not cleaned on Tuesday, and they looked the same on Saturday, so they definitely did not get cleaned Friday either.”

Steffens added, “My cousin, I skate with him, and he has a 3-year-old that has to use the bathroom, and you don’t want to take a kid in there — it’s supposed to be a family place.

“Last Wednesday at about 10:30 in the morning, I went to use the bathroom, and it was locked. Then the other one was locked, too, with a bike sitting out in front of it. I ended up going to the gas station to use the bathroom. Then at about 12:30, my cousin’s son had to go, and they were both still locked, and the same bike was still there.”

Steffens said that after he alerted the occupants that others needed to use the restroom, a woman eventually exited one of the portable units with a dog, and a man emerged from the other while putting items back into his backpack before riding off on a bicycle after cursing at them.

“I don’t know how she could stay in there for that long. I went in for seconds, and it smelled so bad I couldn’t handle it,” he said.

“I’m not one to stir anything up. I barely ever post anything, but I was just like, ‘Dude, this is ridiculous.’”

Steffens said there were a lot of comments from others, citing issues with bathrooms around town before his post was removed from the message board where he shared it.

Steffens is also concerned about the image of the town, as skaters travel from outside the area to visit.

“The skatepark should be a tourist attraction. People travel from all over the world to skate in these parks. Like, that’s the whole purpose of getting a destination skatepark.”

The City of Grand Junction’s response said part of the issue with the bathrooms overflowing at the park is due to people placing trash in the toilet tanks instead of the trash cans provided outside.

“Given the tremendously high volume of use being seen at this activated park, one of the two units filled to capacity – some of which, again, involves trash being placed in the unit,” the city said.

The city also described its system for maintaining facilities and the benefits of portable restrooms, which are inside shipping containers.

“Portable restrooms and vault toilets are available throughout the parks and recreation system, and they are open during all open park hours. Since the expansion of enclosed portable restrooms, Parks and Recreation has seen a significant decline in vandalism. This includes a reduction in the need to replace sinks, toilets, dispensers, fix graffiti and conduct overall cleanings from excessive trash and waste in the brick-and-mortar restrooms.”

The city said many brick-and-mortar restrooms at its most visited parks are open during park operating hours and monitored throughout the day by a rotating team of custodians during warmer months. They are also open for shelter reservations.

“This program allows these brick-and-mortar restrooms to be in a condition consistent with City standards during rentals and therefore available during rentals that often serve many residents,” the city said.

When asked, the city responded that there has been excessive vandalism at the bathrooms at the skatepark and it is frustrating.

To report any park issue Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., call 970-254-3866. Voicemails are accepted. For urgent issues after hours, call the Grand Junction Police Department at 970-242-6707. Email is also an option at gjparksandrec@gjcity.org.