The newly constructed restrooms in Chautauqua Park in the city of Fairfield will be inaugurated at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, July 1. This new facility is situated close to Shelter 2, in proximity to Shelter 3, and the main parking lot. The restroom building comprises four separate, single-user ADA-friendly spaces, complete with drinking fountains outside. Fairfield City Engineer and Public Works Director, Melanie Carlson, stated that the restrooms were solely funded by the Edd Felgar Estate. The design and furnishing works were carried out by Romtec, Inc., and the main contractor for the project was Hooyer Construction of Pella.

Originally, the city planned to launch new bathrooms in Chautauqua Park in 2024 as part of a larger project, which included building five individual bathrooms, a locker room for park staff, and a storage area, but the plan changed due to escalating costs. The city solicited contractor bids for this project along with an additional project to build a new shelter at Waterworks Park. The combined cost was estimated to be around $718,000, with the majority funded by a $500,000 grant from the Edd and Darlene Felgar Estate. When a solitary bid of just over $1 million was received, the plan was put on hold.

If you have any further inquiries or need additional details about the restroom project in Chautauqua Park, you may get in touch with the responsible officer, Andy Hallman, at 641-575-0135 or via email at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com.