ROCKLAND – “First thing first – finding a bathroom,” said the tourist as she ended her walk of the Breakwater. For years, visitors to the Rockland landmark have endured an internal stress that could have easily been resolved, yet turned into a frantic search instead. Soon, however, this tourist attraction may have a restroom nearby for such needs.

Joan Wright, resident and member of the Ad Hoc Harbor Parks Committee and the Parks Commission, presented the Rockland City Council with the name of a business and a quote for a single, pre-fabricated bathroom consisting of toilet, urinal, and sink.

“The situation has been difficult for visitors and the neighborhood for many years.” Wright said during the Wednesday, July 5, council agenda-setting meeting. “I am hoping that this bathroom will be a welcome facility for everyone.”

A resident gardener told council that some people relieve their issues within the Reed Park grounds regardless of physical structure.

“As a member of the Rockland Volunteer Garden Group, and having spent quite a bit of time over there lately, I can tell you that they [visitors] are making facilities over there, even though there is not one,” she said. “It’s not very pleasant for ladies who are doing the gardening.”

The location being considered is on Samoset Road, in front of the maintenance gate used by the Samoset Resort and Spa, according to Wright. She and Public Works Director Dave St. Laurent toured the area, and St. Laurent offered to move the resort’s gate if need be, Wright told council.

The single-unit bathroom, by Public Bathroom Co, would be trucked in, then mounted on a slab provided by the City’s maintenance department.

Wright proposed to council that the bathroom, which will remain on site permanently, be usable between April 1 and November 1 each year.

Council will discuss the Breakwater public bathroom idea at its Monday, July 10, regular council meeting.

IN OTHER CITY BUSINESS

During the same meeting, council heard from a cyclist requesting pavement signage along Main and Union streets that would remind motorists to be mindful of cyclists.

Matthew Ondra, “an avid intown cyclist and bike commuter,” who also happens to be a member of the Harbor Management Commission, has been working with Public Works and Renew Rockland to try to make Rockland a more bike-friendly community.

A month or two ago, his group held a forum to talk about bicycling in the city. About 10 people attended. The biggest concern presented at the forum was an unsafe feeling when biking on Union and Main streets.

“The majority of bikers on Main Street are just riding on the sidewalks,” Ondra said, “which, you’re not actually allowed to do. But honestly, it’s so unsafe to ride on the streets people are riding on the sidewalks. And then it becomes unsafe for the pedestrians as well as the bikers.”

In response, he and Nate Davis became local community advocates within the bike coalition.

They’ve met with Public Works and Renew Rockland. He’s also met with Maine Department of Transportation, who declared a willingness to provide signs. Side Country Sport has offered to donate the specialized road paint, he said.

“As an owner of the bike shop, when people come to rent bikes from him, he can’t really offer them a way to get out the door, because it’s not safe for them to be biking in front of the bike shop,” he said.

In the end, Ondra said that after accumulating the paint and the estimated $200 stencils, it’s just a matter of a couple public works employees (and himself if needed) getting out on the road and creating the pictures.

Sarah Thompson can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com