Tyler Thomas park in old Mandeville will soon sport new playground equipment, part of a move by the city to bolster parks and recreation areas across the city. The city might also install public restrooms at several recreational sites.

American All Fun Inc. of Monroe submitted the lowest of five proposals the city received for the playground equipment, which is aimed at the younger children who frequent the park on Lamarque Street. The City Council recently awarded an $87,000 contract to the company and the work is expected to begin soon, Mayor Donald Villere said.

The playground equipment at Tyler Thomas will consist of four areas containing swings, slides, monkey bars, etc. Villere told the council, which unanimously approved the contract, that a review committee which included neighborhood residents evaluated the proposals.

The improvements to the park were formalized at the same meeting at which the council adopted a budget amendment that increased the amount of money to be set aside for public restrooms from $75,000 for the current fiscal year to $270,000. The initial $75,000 was for a restroom at Sunset Point, which has picnic tables and a public fishing pier. The increased line item reflects the city’s intention to install public bathrooms at several other locations as well, Villere said.

The money would finance new restrooms at Sunset Point, Tyler Thomas Playground, the harbor area and the Dew Drop jazz hall and improvements to the restrooms at the Paul Spitzfaden Community Center.

City Councilman Jeff Bernard said that while building bathrooms at Sunset Point, which currently has several portable toilets, and the Dew Drop might not cause a huge stir, the same probably cannot be said for the playground and harbor area. The question of public bathrooms, including areas along the lakefront, came up during some campaign forums in the last round of municipal elections, with a range of opinions offered by the candidates.

Bernard said some residents worry about maintenance issues and possible vandalism and crime in the bathrooms. “I’m not necessarily in favor of a bathroom at Tyler Thomas park,” he added. “I think there still has to be some discussion.”

Villere said he realizes that some residents might object to restrooms in some areas, but that there is a need at Sunset Point and the harbor area.

“This is advance notice,” he said of the amended restrooms line item in the budget. “We’ve put up the money. We’re floating this idea. We’re saying ‘We want you to be aware of where we’re headed with this.'”

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