New York City Parks Getting Modular Public Bathrooms

The ‘Portland Loo,’ named after its birth city, is designed to withstand year-round weather and resist vandalism.

1 minute read

March 1, 2023, 6:00 AM PST

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


Portland Loo modular gray public bathroom booth sits on concrete slab with green lawn and tree in background in a park in Portland, Oregon

A Portland Loo in Portland, Oregon. | Graywalls / A Portland Loo in Portland, Oregon.

New York City is going ahead with a plan to install modular public bathrooms in a park in each of the city’s boroughs as part of a pilot program, writes Clio Chang in Curbed. The city will use a product dubbed the Portland Loo already in use in Portland, Seattle, and Boston.

The bathrooms, which will include changing tables, are made of steel and look a bit like newspaper stands. They’re ruthlessly functional and built with metal slats meant to deter any activity other than relieving oneself. While the Portland Loos cost $185,000 each, the Parks Department has budgeted up to $5.3 million for the project to account for construction costs — like connecting them to electric and water lines.

The exact locations are still to be determined, but the project will be a welcome addition to America’s woefully inadequate public bathroom network.

Tuesday, February 28, 2023 in Curbed

Large blank mall building with only two cars in large parking lot.

Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House

If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.

April 18, 2024 - Central Penn Business Journal

Street scene in Greenwich Village, New York City with people walking through busy intersection and new WTC tower in background.

Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility

Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.

April 14, 2024 - Todd Litman

Rendering of wildlife crossing over 101 freeway in Los Angeles County.

World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County

Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.

April 15, 2024 - LAist

View of downtown Seattle with Space Needle and mountains in background

Eviction Looms for Low-Income Tenants as Rent Debt Rises

Nonprofit housing operators across the country face almost $10 billion in rent debt.

April 23 - The Seattle Times

Rendering of Brightline West train passing through Southern California desert

Brightline West Breaks Ground

The high-speed rail line will link Las Vegas and the Los Angeles area.

April 23 - KTLA

Aerial view of gold state capitol dome in Denver, Colorado and Denver skyline.

Colorado Bans No-Fault Evictions

In most cases, landlords must provide a just cause for evicting tenants.

April 23 - Colorado Politics

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.