A place "to go" and hydrate for residents and visitors — on two or four legs — is now open in Coquitlam's Town Centre Park.
In a release today (Oct. 27), the city says a new universally accessible washroom is complete at the south end of the Lafarge Lake trail loop behind Evergreen Culture Centre and features several amenities to meet the public's needs.
This includes two stalls with separate entrances, toilets, sinks, folding changing tables and drinking fountains on the outside for humans and pets.
Scott Groves, Coquitlam's director of strategic and capital projects, explains this is part of the city's 20-year Town Centre Park master plan (TCPMP).
"Providing easy access from the surrounding trails, the new universal and accessible washrooms are part of major upgrades to the 1.2-kilometre lake loop trail and surrounding area," he says, noting the TCPMP was adopted by council in 2018.
"Projects related to the TCPMP to date have included improvements to the festival lawn, a new plaza with seating, a new washroom and servery building, a new universal washroom, and additional enhancements to the lawn, gardens, trails and lighting."
Next to the drinking fountain is a water bottle filler to the left of the washroom, as well as a pet bowl so animals can stay hydrated on hotter days.
Signs and enhanced lighting are also installed around Town Centre Park to help trail visitors easily find the washrooms.
The city says more upgrades are already underway covering the park's 23 acres and are set to be done in two years, such as new gathering spaces and plantings.
For more information, you can view the Town Centre Park master plan on the City of Coquitlam's website.
