The Town of Winamac is putting together some plans for the future renovation of the Town Park’s restroom facilities. The park board has been discussing the idea of expanding the main restrooms in the front of the park with more toilets and additional room for wheelchairs.
In order to do that, Park Manager Dave DeLorenzo shared a proposal with the park board last week that would move one restroom to the other side of the shelter building. “It would be basically three separate structures because if they are connected under one roof, it may make a difference in permitting, whether it be local or with the state DNR,” he explained.
DeLorenzo says the Indiana Department of Natural Resources has offered some advice for how Winamac may proceed with the project in the easiest way possible. “The way that I read the email was when you do the remodeling or the improvement, if it increases the tax assessment or it’s considered a substantial improvement, then the DNR may tell us you need to elevate it,” DeLorenzo said. “And at that point, the height of that elevation, I’m not sure how they calculate that.”
Park Board President Courtney Poor added the changes could also have an effect on the town’s insurance. However, park officials say they can avoid a lot of additional regulations by keeping the project under 400 square feet. DeLorenzo says the current plans are at 396.
Board members are considering the project for construction in 2018.
