Portable-Toilet Plan Finalized For Downtown State College

Borough officials have finalized a plan to put four portable toilets in downtown State College, public-works director Mark Whitfield said Monday.

He said the toilets, more popularly known as portapotties, will be in place before the Central Pennsylvania of the Arts begins on July 7.

Two will be located at the McAllister Street parking deck; one will be along the 200 block of Highland Avenue; and one will be in Sidney Friedman Park (formerly Central Parklet) near the post office.

Whitfield said each of the rented toilets will cost the borough about $72 a month. They’ll be fastened to the ground to try to prevent vandalism.

‘We’re going to make it very difficult to overturn’ them, Whitfield said. He said the toilets will probably be in place at least through the end of Penn State football season, when borough officials will evaluate their effectiveness in preventing public urination.

The borough also will open the bathrooms in several public parking garages for longer hours. Starting before the arts festival, the bathrooms in the Fraser Street, Pugh Street and West Beaver Avenue garages will be open for the overnight hours, officials said.

They had been open only during daytime and evening hours in recent years.

The borough has sought to make more toilet facilities available downtown since the Borough Council approved a tougher public-urination ordinance in May. Council members approved a new maximum fine of $600, up from $300. The new minimum fine is $300.

The ordinance went into effect this month. But borough Manager Tom Fountaine said the borough will not enforce the tougher fines until the portable toilets and extended public-bathroom hours are in place.

Borough police issued 311 citations for public urination from June 2008 to May 2009, up from 265 citations in the same period in 2005-2006.

Earlier coverage: State College To Offer More Toilet Facilities Downtown