Montgomery County parkgoers might want to pack some toilet paper in their picnic baskets.
Port-a-potties are on the way out as the county removes more than 80 of the portable toilets from county parks.
Some residents — who will be forced to become less bashful in the great outdoors, or cross their legs and try not to think of waterfalls — are furious that one of the nation’s wealthiest counties can’t pick up the tab for a commode.
“I was appalled to learn of plans to remove all [portable] rest facilities from county parks,” Silver Spring resident Dennis Rodrigues wrote in a letter slamming the County Council. “Removing rest facilities is unsafe, unsanitary and sends the wrong message to anyone trying to get outdoors … as well as parents who take their kids to local parks.”
The county gutted spending for agencies to help close a nearly $1 billion budget gap next fiscal year. Funding for the Maryland-National Parks and Planning Commission was slashed by about 15 percent, one of the heaviest-hit departments.
“Are you serious?” asked county resident Diane Lee, walking through downtown Rockville. “There has to be enough money for that. I would like to think I live in a place that isn’t too cheap to pay for, well, crap.”
Parks spokeswoman Kelli Holsendolph said the toilets were a roughly $155,000 line-item cut made by the council. She said parks officials are looking for users of athletic field to sponsor toilets while they try to get the money back from the county.
Some county leaders are calling for funds to keep the toilet bowls flowing.
“We need to find the money to keep them there,” said Councilman Marc Elrich, D-at large. “If you’re playing ball for hours and don’t have a place to go, we all know what happens. I think we can find the money to do this and should.”
In the meantime, Holsendolph encouraged residents to “use restrooms before they come to the park or go to nearby restaurants.”
And yes, it’s illegal to “go” on park property.
