An Update in the Battle of the Bathrooms at Mission Bay Park

The closure of half of the public bathrooms at Mission Bay Park may be turning into a public health emergency. Veronica Carter and Bret Burkhart spoke with the founder of the Mission Bay Park Conservancy, Bradley Schnell.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
A battle over the city closing about half all the
public bathrooms at Mission Bay Park is heating up. The
mayor has rejected a plan by city Councilman Raoul Campio
to use some newly freed up sending money to reopen
those bathrooms. Because here's the problem, Campo says, tourists and
visitors have begun relieving themselves in grassy areas and other
locations and creating a public health emergency.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
We didn't see that happening. On the Cocoa News liveline
is Bradley Schnell, the founder of the Mission Bay Park Conservancy.
Welcome back to San Diego's morning news. First off, catch
us up to speed. How many reshrooms are closed?

Speaker 3 (00:38):
Well, Mission May Park has I believe it's twenty Now
I'm forgetting, I'm on the spot. I think it's twenty
eight restrooms total, and thirteen of them are closed. It's
definitely thirteen are closed.

Speaker 2 (00:49):
Wow, And people are now having to find alternative ways
of relieving themselves, so to speak.

Speaker 3 (00:58):
Well, I think that's the that's the apparent inevitable reality
of the situation, which I think is unfortunate. And I think,
you know, it's interesting to watch, you know, our elected
officials go head to head on this issue, and I'm
actually grateful that they are, because I think this is
an issue that needs to be debated in the in
the public sphere. We need to talk about what the

(01:21):
future of our parks are and what we you know,
expect in terms of basic public amenities. But I think
in general, you know, this is certainly inspiring the community
to stand up and tell our elected officials what what
we really want them to focus on.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
What do you think that solution is.

Speaker 3 (01:43):
Well, the good news is, and I'm actually, uh, moderately excited,
is that the city staff has agreed to meet with
the conservancy and we're we're going to be meeting with
them next week and try to find some solutions. I
think there's a lot of different opportunit munities, but the
big thing is really a precedent that's already been set

(02:04):
in other parks like Balbo Park and the with Forever
Balbo Park as well as the La Joya Coastal Conservancy.
Both of them have special use permits that allow them
to do some incremental support work and maintenance care on
those parks that kind of relieve some pressure from the city.

(02:24):
That's not to say that the city is off the
hook for you know, doing some responsibility. But we can supplement,
we can do pilot programs, and we can find ways
to hopefully keep these restrooms open at least through the summer.
I think that should be the bare minimum. You know.
Obviously there's different population crowds they come in the summer
that we need to account for. And I think the

(02:46):
visual evidence from the news of some of the restrooms
being used even when they're closed is certainly a problem.

Speaker 2 (02:54):
I went to a national park during one of the
government shutdowns and the bathrooms were on absolute mess and
it became more of an issue because then you start
getting wildlife really congregating inside the bathrooms. So this is
a familiar debate when it comes to trying to find
more money for the city budget. How much money is

(03:17):
San Diego really saving when it comes to closing bathrooms.
I mean, it's got to be a minimum amount.

Speaker 3 (03:23):
Well, for for Mission Bay Park specifically, it's around a
half a million dollars, you know, and then there's certainly,
you know, with a several billion dollar budget that the
city has, you know, conceivably that there's room to keep
some of these restrooms open. But I but we understand
as well that you know, there are budget crisises, whether
you know, there's a variety of different things that cause

(03:44):
it to be.

Speaker 2 (03:44):
The way it is.

Speaker 3 (03:46):
But you know, our goal as a conservancy is to
be a partner, to find ways to work with the
city with the conditions right now, and then find ways
in the long term to avoid this in the future,
because I think, you know, part of what the restroom
closure is present is a is a you know, a
symptom of a larger perspective that we've kind of lost
with regard to our generational assets like Mission Bay Park

(04:08):
that need longer term perspective. I mean, getting anything done
in Mission Bay Park is extremely difficult when you account
for all the different land trust issues, postal commission, you
name it. We need long term planning and not you know,
an annual budget review every year.

Speaker 1 (04:26):
Bradley, We thank you so much for joining us. Unfortunately,
this is going to be a topic we'll have to
bring you back for it to talk about because I
don't think it's going to be over soon.

Speaker 3 (04:33):
Thank you, looking forward to it. Thank you all right.

Speaker 1 (04:36):
Bradney Schell, founder of the Mission Bay Park Conservancy,