A new restroom facility at Union Avenue in Old Orchard Beach, as seen on Friday morning, will soon be in operation. LIZ GOTTHELF/Journal TribuneOLD ORCHARD BEACH — A new seasonal public bathroom should be ready for operation next week, says Old Orchard Beach own Manager Larry Mead.

The new bathroom is located a short walk from the beach at Union Avenue, an area that is a little more than two-thirds of a mile from downtown.

The town owns three seasonal public bathrooms in the downtown which have been in operation for many years. The Town Council, in February approved the purchase of a bathroom to be placed outside the downtown area after complaints from residents who said they had seen beach goers relieve themselves outside and use the beach and nearby private property as their personal toilet.

A newly purchased restroom trailer has been placed at its Union Avenue location downhill from the train tracks but has not been fully installed.

Mead said the new bathrooms are expected to be in operation by next weekend.

The sign posted in front of the facility states the bathrooms will be open from 8 a.m. to sunset.

“These are really intended to be for beach use,” said Mead.

The unit will be hooked up to water and sewer lines. It has three single-stall unisex bathrooms. Each bathroom has an individual entrance, and one of the bathrooms is fully wheelchair accessible. The facility will be removed from the site after the summer is over and stored elsewhere for the winter.

The restroom trailer cost the town about $70,000, according to Mead. The town has signed a five-year agreement with the owner of the land where the restroom is located. The town does not have to pay the land owner for the use of the property, said Mead, however, the town has installed water and sewer connections which will increase the market value of the property.

Sherri Tripp, owner of The Ocean Tripp Inn and the Mocean surf and skate shop at 6 Union Ave., said in an email that people have been requesting public facilities in the Union Avenue area for a very long time. She thanked members of the Town Council who voted for the purchase of the facility, and Mead and the public works crew.
“This improvement shows the town’s continued commitment in making OOB, a place for
families to day visit and a family friendly vacation destination,” she said.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.