A Different Hike: Seven Restrooms Closed, Two Fountains Running in Southern NE

Dear Diary,

Wow.  I just got back from hiking to fifteen parks - no, I'm not quite done, three don't have water fountains or restrooms - and Publicola has just reported that the city has decided to fund the Street Sinks after all (item 2).  I can never figure out whether the mayor really has decided to fight water addiction, or not.

Anyway.  I can't write it all up tonight, but here are the essentials:

1. SPU sinks have not all been removed.  I saw four in January; the ones at Albert Davis Park and Ballard Commons were gone this month, so I was worried.  However, the ones at University Heights Plaza and at the intersection of NE 45th St and, oh, 7th Ave NE, but really I-5, anyway those are both still around, but they now bear warning stickers all over them saying the water isn't OK to drink.

2. That doesn't mean it's OK to drink other water, though.  The only fountains I found running in NE south of 85th St at all, come to think of it, are those at the Burke-Gilman Trail at 30th Ave NE, and at University Playground (even though that fountain is still visibly damaged, and didn't run at all last year; so much for when I was told last October that every fountain that could run was running).

3. The restrooms at University Playground, Cowen Park, Ravenna Park except for the lower women's room, and the Brig and "tower" restrooms at Magnuson Park are all closed.  The stated reasons, if any, vary.  But what with the closures of the University branches of the Urban Rest Stop (November) and the Seattle Public Library (January), a homeless man in the U-District now has to hike to Meridian Playground, Gas Works Park, University Village, or one of the very chancy places with open restrooms on the UW campus.  (I know of two; one, I learned today, is only open Thursdays through Sundays in May.)  Or come up with cash to convince a business to let him use the restroom.  (I think this is the situation with the other open restrooms at UW, but am not yet sure.)  Or use a "sanican" and have nowhere to wash his hands.  Which brings us back to where we started, right?  A woman is only minimally better off, since the lower Ravenna restrooms are pretty far from most places in the U-District.

The parks:

• Magnuson Community Center and Park (both)
  
• Burke-Gilman Playground Park (both)
  
• The Burke-Gilman Trail (fountain)
  
• Ravenna Park (both)
  
• Cowen Park (both)
  
• Ravenna Boulevard, to walk across it (neither)
  
• University Heights Plaza, to check on the SPU sink (neither)
  
• University Playground, with a stop at the library on the way (both)
  
• Stopping at I-5 on the way, Christie Park (fountain)
  
• Stopping at the former URS building, which on its other side also hosted the U-District street fountain known to me, Laurelhurst Community Center and Playfield (both)
  
• SUN Park, for a much-needed break for park appreciation (neither)
  
• Bryant Playground (fountain)
  
• View Ridge Playfield (both)
  
• Dahl Playfield (both)
  
• Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center and Park (fountain)
  

Whew.  That only leaves three parks with water fountains to go:  Cedar Park, Meadowbrook Playfield, and Matthews Beach.

Until tomorrow, dear Diary, good night.