San Angelo City Council Finally Set to Approve Construction of Bathrooms at MLK Park

SAN ANGELO – The San Angelo City Council Tuesday is set to approve a plan to construct much needed permanent bathrooms at MLK park. 

According to the agenda, on Jun. 2, the council will consider approving a Memorandum of Understanding between the San Angelo Area Foundation and the City of San Angelo to facilitate the construction of restroom facilities at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Park and authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute all related documents. 

If approved, the city would agree to budget $12,000 annually for operation and maintenance of the bathroom. The construction costs will come from a partnership with the local NAACP chapter and the San Angelo Area Foundation.

In a subsection of the agenda title "Restroom Facilities and Vandalism" the planned facility is described as similar to other park restrooms with concrete walls, steel doors and fixtures.

In reference to possible vandalism the city has made a number of precautions including using material that graffiti can be removed from. And they are also looking to deter vandalism through punishment.

"Should fixtures or hardware be damaged on/at the restroom, the community will provide the funding for the needed replacement parts," stated the document. "Repeat offenses will result in shortened opening times and longer periods of closure. For instance, two occurrences of vandalism in one month will result in the restrooms locking at 8 pm and opening at 8 am as well as closure for an additional 2 days. Gross vandalism or three occurrences of vandalism in one month will result in the restrooms going offline for a full week, as well as shortened opening times."

The city will make a decision on Tuesday at 9 a.m. during the regular city council meeting which will be held at the McNease Convention Center and is open to the public.