Ames Parks and Recreation Department invites the community to a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Brookside Park restrooms. The event will be held at 5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17, at the park at 1325 Sixth St. The previous Brookside Park restroom building was constructed in the 1930s as a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) project. On May 5, 2018, a fire started in a garbage can under the building’s overhang and caused significant damage.

The renovated facility includes four gender-neutral, ADA-compliant restrooms. The roof has been rebuilt out of brown metal and includes skylights for each restroom. The skylights allow in daylight and reduce the need for lighting. Infrared occupancy sensors will turn the lights on based on body temperature. The feature will serve multiple purposes. Lights will only turn on when needed and will stay on as long as someone is in there, illuminating the dome on the skylight. If this happens after park hours, the lit dome will be an indicator for police in the area to check the restroom.

Due to concerns about COVID-19 transmission, those who attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony in person are expected to wear a mask and maintain a distance of at least six feet from others at the event. There will be no seating or refreshments. Additionally, the ceremony will offered virtually for those who want to watch without being physically present. The event will be livestreamed on City of Ames Facebook (@CityOfAmes) and YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/AmesChannel12).

For more information, visit the Parks and Recreation homepage at www.amesparkrec.org or call the Community Center at 515.239.5350.