Simi Valley : Volunteers Needed to Build Restrooms

The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District has asked local electricians, carpenters and plumbers to volunteer to build restrooms at the Santa Susana Southern Pacific Railroad Depot.

The invitation marks the first time that the district has asked the public to help build a park facility, public information officer Rick Johnson said.

The depot, located at Kuehner Drive and Katherine Road, contains a scale model train belonging to the Santa Susana Model Railroad Club.

Although the Rancho Simi Foundation, the district’s nonprofit arm, has operated the depot as a museum for several years, they have opened it to the public only on special occasions because Ventura County building codes require that public buildings have restrooms, Johnson said.

The decision to ask members of the public to help build the restrooms reflects a new trend of reliance on volunteers for some minor construction projects, Johnson said.

“It’s a new way we’re going,” he said.

Small construction jobs, such as building restrooms, are normally done by district workers, he said. Using volunteers instead will allow employees to work on other tasks. The district began construction of the depot’s restrooms Saturday.

Work on the restrooms will continue every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. until they are finished.

People interested in volunteering for the project should call Hamilton at 584-4400.