Washington Park Toilet Burned to the Ground

A portable toilet at Washington Park was burned to the ground early today, causing $7,500 in damages.

The toilet, which was located on the south side of park near Franklin Street, had been a fixture near the park athletic fields for more than two decades.

Downers Grove fire and police personnel responded to the fire at about 4 a.m., said Dan Cermak, park district administrator.

The toilet and its newly built enclosure—a custom ornamental fence with screening—were a total loss, Cermak said. “It requires removal and replacement of all of it.”

Last year, three portable toilets were set ablaze in south-side parks, Cermak said. However, this is the first time to his knowledge the Washington Park toilet has been torched. The park district leases about 100 portable toilets a year for park and sports programs. 

It is the latest in a series of incidents involving portable toilets at Washington Park. In October 2010, a portable toilet in the park’s north parking lot was repeatedly filled to capacity with water. That toilet was removed at the end of last season and has not been replaced.

in those tampering incidents. Roman, who was elected to the Park Board in April, was asked by the board to reimburse the district for $330 in expenses incurred in the incidents. After he declined to make restitution, the Park Board on May 5  against him.

Director of Parks Todd Reese filed the complaint with Downers Grove police early last week, Cermak said. The paperwork was forward to the DuPage County State's Attorney's Office, which will decide whether to pursue the matter, he said.