Engaging the community and selecting the sites for the City's new public restrooms

The City's "Philly Phlush" pilot aims to provide safe and clean public restrooms in Philadelphia neighborhoods. There are currently two Philly Phlush locations in Philadelphia. Funding for the pilot will support the expansion of the pilot in new neighborhoods through summer 2026.

The City will select these new neighborhoods based on a variety of factors, including:

• The need for public restrooms in high traffic areas.
• The need for harm reduction interventions to address substance use, homelessness, and racial equity.
• The availability of City-owned property with efficient connections to water and electricity.

Once a neighborhood is selected for the pilot, the City conducts a community engagement process. This process gives neighborhood residents, businesses, and stakeholder groups the opportunity to weigh in on the exact location and other issues of concern.

The City has conducted three community engagement processes to date: in Center City, North Philadelphia and West Philadelphia.

Center City

The City selected Center City as the first neighborhood for the Philly Phlush pilot. Starting in January 2021, we gathered concerns and recommendations from stakeholders about the location, operation, and maintenance of a public restroom in Center City. Feedback came from civic and community leaders, people experiencing homelessness/housing insecurity, businesses, and the general public.

We held pop up events in both Love Park and at the Municipal Services Building. Mural Arts facilitated art activities to engage people in conversation about public restrooms.

A pop-up community engagement event for the public restroom pilot.

We also conducted a survey. We learned how people feel about porta-potties and how to provide a better experience with a permanent public restroom. Outreach to nearby civic groups, organizations, businesses, nearby people experiencing homelessness/housing insecurity, five outdoor events, and coverage in a coverage in a Philadelphia Inquirer editorial led to 480 responses. The survey found that 89 percent of respondents envisioned a new permanent public restroom as a positive amenity.

The Center City Philly Phlush at 15^th and Arch streets.

The Center City Philly Phlush was installed and opened in July 2023.

The Center City Philly Phlush is located at the corner of 15^th and Arch streets, where temporary porta potties previously had been located for more than a year. The location was analyzed to ensure it met the technical constraints for installation. This included the size of the space available, ownership of the land, proximity to intersections and the curb, and connections to water, sewage, and electricity utilities. A separate site visit was conducted with disability rights advocates to ensure accessibility and adherence to ADA requirements.

North Philadelphia

Starting in Spring of 2021, community members provided input on site improvements planned for Fotterall Square, including the addition of a public restroom through the Rebuild program. In the spring of 2023, the Philly Phlush pilot partnered with Rebuild and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation to help operate the new restroom. We engaged with community members regarding the operations and hours of the restroom.

The North Philadelphia Philly Phlush at Fotterall Square.

The North Philadelphia Philly Phlush was installed and opened in June 2023.

With feedback from stakeholders, Rebuild and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation selected the location of the public restroom within Fotteral Square. The restroom is located on the side of the park closest to West Cumberland Street. It is near the new activities added to Fotterall Square like the mini pitch and basketball court.

West Philadelphia

The Friends of Clark Park, Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, and the University City District were working in 2022 to develop a "master plan" for improvements to Clark Park. In a survey of over 900 people, public restrooms were the number one requested amenity. We partnered with this group in late 2022.

Through this partnership and additional outreach, we have engaged civic and community leaders, unhoused Philadelphians, businesses, and the general public to gather concerns and recommendations for the operation and maintenance of a new public restroom.

A community engagement meeting for the Clark Park "master plan," including a West Philadelphia Philly Phlush.

As a part of the "master plan" process, Studio Bryan Hanes submitted four designs for community feedback. Each design featured different locations for amenities, including the new public restroom. This process helped determine that the West Philadelphia Philly Phlush will be near the corner of South 43rd Street and Regent Square. It will sit next to the basketball court and drinking fountain, close to the playground.

The West Philadelphia public restroom is expected to be installed in late 2024.

Staying connected

If you would like to be updated on future community engagement opportunities regarding the City's public restroom pilot, please email [email protected] to stay connected.

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