Belleville’s West Zwick’s Park (File photo: Quinte News)
Belleville officials say the issue of washroom requirements at West Zwick’s Park will be presented at the city’s capital budget session this fall.
Parks manager Larry Glover told city council at its strategy session Wednesday that $1 million is needed to provide the sanitary system and for the water treatment.
The issue of lack of washroom facilities in the park was the subject of a petition to council recently, signed by 1,300 people.
About 400 people, mostly seniors, attend the Lions Club concerts at the park.
Council was told the washrooms are closed if more than 100 people are in the park and portable toilets are used, because of lack of proper infrastructure.
Director of Recreation Mark Fluhrer said the scheduling of events has been curtailed significantly because of lack of infrastructure.
Councillor Jackie Denyes pointed out that Glover has made efforts to accommodate the needs as best he can.
“We met with the Lions Club to try and put a quick band-aid on it,” she said. “We haven’t just sat back and done nothing.”
She said the city was trying to get them through the season.
Mayor Taso Christopher the city needs to look at the big picture, which involves the city’s long-term waterfront plan to transform Zwick’s into a “full-fledged regional park.”
