Fixing the peninsula's potty problem

CHARLESTON - Improved signs, spruced-up spaces and restroom directory cards for visitors are among the ideas Charleston officials are mulling to solve the peninsula's public potty problem.

A nine-member toilet task force composed of city officials, parking garage operators and tourism experts has been working in recent months to address confusion and complaints about the city's public bathroom options.

Charleston has 19 publicly owned restrooms on the lower peninsula, but finding one can be difficult in times of need because of inadequate markings, inconsistent hours and other issues.

Mayor Joe Riley appointed the task force to study the matter after The Post and Courier detailed visitors' restroom frustrations in a May article.

Heading the panel are Matt Compton, director of the city's Parks Department, and Barbara Vaughn, Charleston's director of media relations. Among other things, they said, their panel is discussing:

--Creating information cards that list the exact locations and hours of all public bathrooms. The cards would be placed in hotels, museums, visitor centers and other tourist hot spots.

--Upgrading some bathrooms and creating more consistent hours of operation.

--Adding international restroom symbols to parking garage signs to better alert people to the presence of public toilets.

--Ensuring all facilities are well-marked.

Vaughn said the goal is to create a uniform and accessible network of amenities.

Compton said the city also is looking into expanding its bathroom options. In particular, the panel has examined city-owned Hazel Parker Playground, which has a bathroom facility that is off-limits to the public.

Opening it to the general public doesn't seem wise from a security standpoint given the number of programs housed there for small children, he said. He said it would be like leaving open the doors to an elementary school.

The spot is the lone publicly owned outpost for relief in the heavily visited area South of Broad. Many tourists have groused about bladder-busting marches from The Battery in search of a toilet.

Several residents of Fort Sumter House adjacent to White Point Garden wrote The Post and Courier in June complaining of visitors relieving themselves in the park and on private property in the area.

Compton said the city is still looking into possible solutions for the area, but he pointed out that residents have been opposed to plans officials have floated in the past to place public toilets there.

Through its work, he said, the task force hopes to get out the message that visitors should avail themselves of other bathroom opportunities before venturing into the historic, residential neighborhood.

Reach Glenn Smith at 937-5556 or gsmith@postandcourier.com.