Public bathrooms for 2 parks approved despite opposition
Construction of new restrooms in two parks will begin in The Woodlands’ villages of Cochran’s Crossing and Alden Bridge, coming after three months of objections from some residents who say they worry the facilities will bring an increase in crime and vandalism.
The Woodlands Township board approved money for the construction of two new restrooms at Capstone and Sundance parks in November 2022.
After Capstone residents sent in 45 letters in opposition and spoke in multiple meetings over three months, the board reopened the discussion, but voted 6-1 to proceed Feb. 16.
Of the 384 affected neighbor letters sent to Capstone residents, 45 came back against the proposed restrooms and six were in favor. Several Capstone residents reached out directly to board members, and 26 attended a Capstone Park meeting in opposition of the restrooms.
Board member Shelley Sekula-Gibbs was the sole “nay” vote. Sekula-Gibbs said she spoke directly with six residents in favor and more than 45 residents in opposition to the Capstone restroom due to concerns over crime, parking, and increased traffic.
“I think it behooves us to listen to the residents,” SekulaGibbs said. “You asked for their input, and they gave it to us.”
Construction of the two park restrooms was originally part of the parks and recreation department’s 2022 needs assessment, which included construction of the restrooms, new artificial turf fields and pickleball parks, and the expansion of Alden Bridge Sports Park.
The cost for the two 12-by-12 foot restrooms is $604,018, Township Parks and Recreation Director John McGowan said.
Groups of up to a dozen or so residents regularly attended township meetings to raise concerns over a potential increase in crime and vandalism with the addition of the restrooms, including Ann Perry.
Perry, who has lived across the street from Capstone Park for 27 years, regularly monitors activity at the nearby park.
“I am the police,” Perry said. “This will drastically affect our neighborhood along with more crime, more people speeding down our street . ... I think we can spend our money more wisely on other issues, taking care of what we already have.”
The parks department said more active parks with multiple amenities “typically experience less crime, vandalism, and homeless and illicit activity.”
There are 31 park restrooms in The Woodlands, each of which are checked twice daily and closed from 11 p.m. to sunrise, McGowan said.
Grogan’s Point Park and Meadowlake Park, both of which have restrooms, received 8 and 15 calls with the Montgomery County Sheriff ’s Office over the past 24 months. Capstone and Sundance received 13 and 16 calls in the same period.
Residents said Capstone is a neighborhood park serving nearby residents, so most people can walk back home to use the restroom.
Capstone resident Lourdes Harrist said concerns about “sex, drugs and violence” in the bathroom are unfounded. Her two children visit every day, Harrist said, and will be able to fully enjoy the park’s amenities with the new restroom.
“Many, many times we have had to cut our visits to the park short because there are no bathrooms,” Harrist said. “The elderly, people with certain disabilities, runners, cyclists, just people in general need access to bathrooms, and we believe that all of us would benefit if bathrooms would be added.”
Because both Capstone and Sundance are over 1.5 acres and have extra amenities, McGowan said.