Uniontown public restroom on the mend

UNIONTOWN — The Port of Whitman County Commissioners voted to authorize an Economic Development and Tourism Agreement with the Town of Uniontown to help fund the revitalization of the restroom facility in Holzer Park in their regular Thursday, Jan. 18, commission meeting.

The commissioners voted to authorize Port Executive Director Kara Riebold to sign the agreement to provide Uniontown with a contribution of $25,000 toward the restroom in Holzer Park.

Uniontown is seeking an excess levy for parks in 2025 to provide a $5,000 match to meet the projected funding needs.

The project includes the installation of accessible sinks, handrails, automatic door openers, automatic lighting, hand dryers, replacement heaters, resurfacing floors with non-slip epoxy, and repainting.

“We are excited to partner with Uniontown in the Holzer Park restroom improvements,” Port Executive Director Kara Riebold said, noting that they share commitments to economic development and tourism advancement for Whitman County and know that the facility will be used for years to come.

Uniontown Town Administrator Wesley Kerr said that the restrooms benefit residents and tourists, but have become run down over time. “They are centrally located near our town’s general store and café as well as our local winery, and we are excited for how this improvement can support our local businesses, parks, and tourism,” Kerr said.

According to the Washington State Department of Transportation, in 2017, 6,000 people passed through Holzer Park in Uniontown, located centrally on US-195, and approximately 120 of the people stopped and used the park bathroom.

Holzer Park is the location of many Uniontown community events and draws in visitors across the region; Media and Community Outreach Manager Rebekah Huber said that the restroom is the only outdoor restroom facility between the 72-mile trip between Rosalia and Lewiston, Idaho.