Woodbridge looks to ditch portable toilets at outdoor concert venues

WOODBRIDGE – Sometimes local government has to deal with some real crap.

For Woodbridge that entails trying to decide whether to buy three restroom trailers to replace the portable toilets at several outdoor locations where events draw large crowds.

Mayor John E. McCormac said the bathroom structures are proposed for Parker Press Park on Woodbridge Avenue where concerts and other events are held; at the township health center property next to Woodbridge High School, the site of a summer concert series, children's soccer, health fairs and other events; and at Anchors Tiki Bar in the Sewaren section.

"We need something that is permanently handicapped accessible," McCormac said.

The toilet trailers may be needed because township officials don't want to see money go down the drain.

McCormac said it costs a lot of money to have the portable toilets cleaned so frequently during heavy use, especially during the summer. He did not have available the amount the township has paid.

"It's not cheap," he said.

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And that's why the township is considering whether it would be more cost effective to purchase bathroom trailers that can be connected to the township sewer system at the three locations.

The toilet trailers have men's and women's facilities, each with three compartments.

McCormac said 1,500 to 2,000 people each night attend the summer concerts at Woodbridge High School.

"We have over 100 shows and probably 50 are at Woodbridge High School, 30 at Parker Press Park," said McCormac. There is also weekend entertainment at the tiki bar site.

He explained the summer concert goers have to walk a far distance to the high school to use the restroom facilities in the building, which is closed on Sundays. He added the portable facility at that location is not handicapped accessible.

There is a portable restroom at the tiki bar location, but it has two steps. There is a permanent facility there, but it was built primarily for the boaters at the nearby marina, and only has one men's and one women's facility.

The mayor said more restrooms are needed when there is a large crowd at the tiki bar, particularly on the weekends when bands perform and attract more than 250 people.

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He said residents have made some unflattering comments about the restroom facilities, particularly those at Parker Press Park.

"It's just not the best experience," he said.

"They're portable. Nobody really likes going into them. But when you gotta go, you gotta go," McCormac said. "So this will make the experiences much better and we'll probably save a lot of money in the long run. So it's as much a financial decision as it is an operational decision."

McCormac said there is a tentative plan to purchase the restroom trailers through a state contract, but it hasn't been finalized. The township is still awaiting information about the costs.

The township hopes to have that information soon so a decision can be made so the restroom trailers can be in place for next spring.

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Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.