The greyish-green washrooms have been removed. Last year they had to be installed in order for Peachland's new splash pad to be legal, despite how the existing beige washrooms are located a few metres away.

(DAN WALTON / iNFOnews.ca)

Having a washroom on the same side of the street as a splash pad in Peachland used to be a matter of children’s safety, but Interior Health doesn’t see it that way anymore.

Last year, Peachland council reluctantly voted to install a new washroom facility in its downtown core, despite having other facilities just a stone’s throw away, due to criteria set out by Interior Health. But the second set of washrooms were required in order to open a new splash pad to the public, which had already been met with several delays.

Beach Avenue – the street between the spray park and the washrooms – has a speed limit of 30 km/h.

iNFOnews.ca asked Interior Health why another set of washrooms were required considering how close they were to existing facilities.

“Concerns were raised with the safety of children crossing the street from the spray pad to access the washrooms,” the health authority said in an email in April 2022.

But Interior Health no longer takes that stance. The second set of washrooms were removed last week and the splash pad remains open to the public.

“Following discussions, Interior Health and the District of Peachland came to an agreement the facilities meet the needs of the people who use the park,” a spokesperson for Interior Health said in an email.

Peachland Mayor Patrick Van Minsel gives credit to CAO Joe Creron.

“Last year he’d spoken with them and made them aware we already have some facilities there, and drinking fountain as well,” Van Minsel said. “Seeing that they didn’t find it necessary to have both washrooms.”

He added that there was concern among members of the public about the cost of the second set of washrooms, however most of the money was recouped by selling them to the City of Kelowna. Todd DeGruchy, senior project manager with the City of Kelowna, said the washrooms are currently in storage as it needs to be de-winterized. It hasn’t been determined where they will be needed, but Mission Recreation Park is a possibility.

Van Minsel was getting used to seeing the second set of washrooms in Peachland's downtown, but said people are happy to see them gone. The ones required by Interior Health were grey and did not mesh well with the rest of the architecture in downtown Peachland. They were called ugly by a former councillor who voted in favour of buying them.

But while there was a will to get rid of the extra set of washrooms, the mayor said there is pressure to add more places to go in the downtown core. The District is looking at other alternatives, which could include an expansion to the existing washrooms.

The washrooms that have been removed are pictured in the centre. The existing washrooms are in the beige building on the left.

(DAN WALTON / iNFOnews.ca)

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