NYC Parks recently announced the launch of a new pilot public bathroom program, opening five new public bathrooms across the city. The Bronx restroom, located in the Concourse section of the borough, opened to mixed reviews, especially after residents learned of the $1 million price tag which is facilitating the doing of their business.

On Tuesday, July 1, NYC Mayor Eric Adams and NYC Parks Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa announced the installation of the five new “Portland Loos” in five city neighborhoods identified as having insufficient access to public restrooms at a total cost of $6 million, part of the mayor’s “We Outside Summer” pilot program.

The new facilities are an extension of the prior “Ur in Luck” initiative, an effort launched by Adams in June 2024 to expand New Yorkers’ access to public restrooms across all five boroughs so they “can enjoy uninterrupted time in the city’s shared parks and natural areas.”

According to city officials, the new bathrooms “get built faster and for a fraction of the cost.” Adams administration officials said the city plans to spend $150 million on the construction of 46 new such bathrooms and renovate 36 existing restrooms through 2029 as part of the “Vital Parks for All” program.

They said while traditional public restrooms cost at least $3.5 million to construct, each new Portland Loo was constructed for “only $1 million per location,” plus some additional site-specific costs. They said in addition to being faster and more cost-efficient, the toilets are prefabricated, meaning most of the parts have been made in the factory and just need to be assembled when they arrive on site.

City officials said this allows for increased quality control of the construction, limits the time and impact construction has on the public, and reduces weather-related delays. They said a Google Maps layer is already available which New Yorkers can activate on their phones to easily find the locations of every public restroom operated by a wide range of agencies and civic institutions citywide.

They said the ready-made new restrooms also include a baby-changing station and that 70% of New Yorkers live within a 10-minute walk of the over 700 restrooms across the five boroughs managed by NYC Parks.

On Sunday, July 6, Norwood News visited the new Bronx bathroom inside Joyce Kilmer Park at East 164th Street and the Grand Concourse, and found the stainless steel structure was open, had a soap dispenser, running water, and a working hand dryer.

One notable problem that was quickly discovered, however, was the presence of “angled louvers” or slats at the top and bottom of the bathroom which, according to the manufacturer, serve to discourage “inappropriate use” of the bathroom such as prostitution and drug use.

One unidentified woman visiting Joyce Kilmer Park the same day said of the new restroom, “It’s really nice.” When we pointed out the angled louvers and informed her it was possible to look inside, she replied, “I know but nobody would do that.” When informed about the $1 million price tag, she concluded, “It’s okay because there’s no bathrooms around.”

We also spoke to Carlos, a Grand Concourse resident, as he waited for one of his two sons to use the new restroom. Once informed of the $1 million cost, he replied, “That’s crazy!” When we directed his attention to the angled louvers that allow sunlight into the bathroom, Carlos said, “And peek in. I think it’s a mistake as well.”

Meanwhile, Chris, a young woman sitting on a park bench with a friend and several children, told us she noticed the new restroom was installed recently. Asked if she had checked it out, she replied, “No I haven’t; I’d rather not.” When informed about the $1 million price tag for the public bathroom, she said, “No way!”

When told of the openings at the top and bottom of the bathroom, Chris said, “Oh, they could see right in? Yeah, I said it from the beginning. When I found out they were going to put some port-o-potty there, I said that’s not a good idea. You don’t know who’s in the park. There’s a lot of kids here; I don’t think it’s safe.”

Norwood News asked the Parks department the reason for the angled louvers and for a comment about the possibility of a patron being seen using the bathroom by another member of the public. Chris Clark, an NYC Parks press officer, avoided the question and directed questions regarding the design to the bathroom manufacturer, Portland Loo.

Portland Loo’s website reads, “Privacy and visibility: While providing users with needed privacy, the design incorporates strategic low visibility features that allow subtle monitoring by authorities, first responders, and maintenance workers. This thoughtful approach helps deter illicit activities while maintaining a secure and safe environment for everyone.”

Portland Loo had also designed a somewhat similar bathroom that had opened on Fordham Plaza in Fordham Manor in 2016 with a 25 cents fee for its use. That restroom did not have slats, was completely encased, and had zero visibility of anyone using the restroom. Norwood News visited the Fordham Plaza site on June 14 and found the bathroom was broken and locked.

Meanwhile, Vincent Barone, press secretary at NYC Department of Transportation (DOT), said the referenced accessible public toilet at Fordham Plaza opened in 2016 and that the department is currently working with franchisee, JCDecaux, to replace it with a revamped version before the end of 2025, with no cost to taxpayers.

Barone was asked how long the Fordham Plaza bathroom had been out of service. We did not receive an immediate response. DOT had invited proposals for new vendors on Fordham Plaza back in April. In May, as reported, a man was stabbed to death at the Plaza on Mother’s Day.

Norwood News also reached out to toilet provider Port-O-Potty in Port Richey, Florida about the cost of their restrooms, often seen at festivals and concerts. A spokeswoman said they only sell previously used bathrooms and do not transport them. They said their bathrooms cost just $400.

City officials say NYC Parks is also investing in clean and accessible restrooms as part of the Second Shift program, with an additional cleaning shift covering 200 hotspots across 121 parks citywide, including at public restrooms.

Meanwhile, the Bronx Night Market returned on Saturday, June 28, to 1 Fordham Plaza. Now, in its final season (definitively), The Bronx Night Market features over 30 local vendors and displays a diverse range of cuisines. Admission is free. For more information, visit eventbrite.com/BronxNightMarket.

*Síle Moloney contributed to this story. 

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Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that primarily serves the northwest Bronx communities of Norwood, Bedford Park, Fordham and University Heights. Through our Breaking Bronx blog, we focus on news and information for those neighborhoods, but aim to cover as much Bronx-related news as possible. Founded in 1988 by Mosholu Preservation Corporation, a not-for-profit affiliate of Montefiore Medical Center, the Norwood News began as a monthly and grew to a bi-weekly in 1994. In September 2003 the paper expanded to cover University Heights and now covers all the neighborhoods of Community District 7. The Norwood News exists to foster communication among citizens and organizations and to be a tool for neighborhood development efforts. The Norwood News runs the Bronx Youth Journalism Heard, a journalism training program for Bronx high school students. As you navigate this website, please let us know if you discover any glitches or if you have any suggestions. We’d love to hear from you. You can send e-mails to norwoodnews@norwoodnews.org or call us anytime (718) 324-4998.