Budget Allows Park Restrooms to Reopen

The padlocks are coming off restrooms in Oxnard’s public parks, because the City Council has approved $107,000 to reopen and clean them.

The spending is included in the $61-million city budget approved this week for the fiscal year that began July 1.

Local residents, who have complained for years about the closed restrooms, welcomed the reopening.

“They have these beautiful parks and new restrooms,” said Debbie Dobbie. She said she has taken her two young children to the park only about once a year because of the lack of restrooms.

“It’s disgusting,” she said.

Councilman John Zaragoza said park restrooms have been closed for several years because of a tight city budget.

Restrooms at the city’s parks will be open all week from April 1 to Sept. 30, and four days a week the rest of the year, he said.

Under the new plan, workers will use steam cleaners on the restrooms, Councilman Tom Holden said.