Portland may offer more public restrooms after complaints of having nowhere to 'go'
PORTLAND (WGME) - When you have to go, where do you go?
It's a question for many in Portland who sometimes can't find a public bathroom.
Portland Downtown says it's the number one issue they hear from tourists.
They say most of the city's public restrooms are centered in the Old Port, leaving large gaps in other areas without anywhere to go.
Earlier this week, Portland Downtown held a public forum on the issue, and they say they are hoping to install seasonal restrooms this summer in some of the areas without available bathrooms.
They say their goal is for visitors to find a bathroom within a 2 to 3 minute walk anywhere downtown.
“We have people of a certain age who need additional facilities, people with young children, people with health conditions. You know one of the things is you shouldn’t judge a person’s health just by looking at them, they may very well need those facilities pretty quickly," said Cary Tyson, Executive Director of Portland Downtown.
Portland Downtown says the city has made efforts in this area.
In 2022, Portland Downtown was involved in helping install four waterless vault toilets with American Rescue Act funding.