Idyllwild public restrooms may be coming soon

Idyllwild Community Center (ICC) President Stephanie Yost and Ashley and Shane Stewart of Idyllwild Realty having been working for several months with the office of Riverside County Third District Supervisor Chuck Washington and the Office of Economic Development to address a long-standing community issue: Idyllwild’s lack of a public restroom for town visitors.

Numerous business owners and residents have raised this important community issue for many years.

Although the board of supervisors’ final funding allocation and authorization is pending, the county is actively reviewing options and plans to provide public restrooms in downtown Idyllwild in support of the mountain communities.

Assuming the project moves forward, the restrooms would be located on a street-fronting easement the Stewarts granted at no cost to the county to their property at 54385 North Circle Drive, immediately in front of Mile Hi Plaza. Regardless of the status of this project, however, the old oak tree that previously stood in this location has been removed due to an infestation by the Goldenspotted oak borer.

ICC would manage and maintain the restrooms, which would be a prefabricated permanent building Riverside County would provide and erect, through an annual county contract. The county would be working with the Stewarts (again, at no cost) to manage the installation, sewer and electrical hook-up, as well as other construction-related details. Idyllwild surveyor Lee Arnson has already donated his services to help prepare the designated property.

The restrooms would be open daily during daylight hours, as well as during major town evening events, such as the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony and the Halloween carnival.

Further details of this pending project will be announced as soon as they are made available, according to Yost.