The only facilities available today at Stillwater Prairie are two portable toilets and an outhouse. The construction project will bring modern restrooms along with a new well, a septic system and electric service to the reserve, including an existing shelter.
“The construction of this facility improves not only the health and safety of the public using Stillwater, but also the park personnel and public programs,” said Jerry Eldred, park district executive director. Park personnel have not had safe running water since the reserve was opened, he said.
The district’s community survey conducted in 2000 showed that the vast majority of residents (at 75 percent) wanted better restroom facilities at parks.
Following passage of a 10-year levy in 2001, modern restrooms were added at Charleston Falls near Tipp City and money set aside for the Stillwater project. The first modern restroom facility for the district was installed at Garbry Big Woods Reserve east of Piqua using a grant and local dollars.
Green technologies are included in the Stillwater plans including geo-thermal heating and enhanced roofing materials, Eldred said. The low bid of $188,478 by Baumer Construction of Minster was approved by the park board in June.
At $155 per foot, the bid was “well below what we would expect” on a project that includes utility installation in addition to the structure, Eldred said. The favorable bid was attributed to the economy.
Additional rest room projects are not on the drawing board, but the district’s goal is to provide safe and clean facilities for residents, as funding is available.
In cases where sharing of facilities is possible, the district works on reaching a partnership with its neighbors. For example, Eldred pointed to the Hobart Urban Nature Preserve in Troy. It is located next to the city’s Menke Park, which has facilities available to preserve users.
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