facility on Tuesday, Nov. 19, with several people showing up to support the project. Pictured, front row from left, are: Judy Legge, Bob Harrison, Krista Oldiges, Nancy McGuire, West Liberty Mayor Brad Hudson and Malia Hughes. Back row, from left: Rick Harr, Mel Lovelace, Tim Woodruff and Nicki Kimball. (Examiner photo | Sharyn Kopf)
The fact that Lions Park in West Liberty needed a new restroom facility was obvious.
After all, the old one was outdated, having been built in the 1950s, and not easily accessible thanks in some part to the 10-inch step leading into it.
Described as “older than dirt,” they tore it down. And on Tuesday, Nov. 19, a group of community members and supporters met at the park to break ground on a much-needed new bathroom.
But this facility won’t just be a rebuild; it will be an upgrade. An upgrade that will “significantly enhance accessibility for all park visitors,” Rick Harr, project manager said.
“We’re excited about it,” Harr continued. “This is the first ADA-compliant restroom in Logan County, and the only one in about a 50-mile radius.”
Krista Oldiges with the Logan County Board of Developmental Disabilities was also on-hand Tuesday. The board was instrumental in making the restroom happen, not only by donating money to the project, but by providing a universal changing table, which will be in the separate family bathroom.
Oldiges called these updates “a huge step forward in ensuring inclusion for people with disabilities in our community.”
The West Liberty Lions Club, which is partnering with the village of West Liberty to make this happen, hopes to see the project completed by spring 2025. They currently have about 85 percent of the required funding.
“We need more money,” Lions Club secretary Nicki Kimball said. “We’ll take big donors.” Laughing, she added, “We’ll even name it after someone, if they want.”
The new facility will have two stalls and two urinals in the men’s room, four stalls in the ladies’ and a separate family restroom.
For more information or to make a donation, go to westlibertylions.org or email [email protected].