The playground at the DND grounds that have brought more users to the park and increased the need for the washrooms to be reopened. (photo courtesy of the City of Vernon)

By Liam Verster

Monitoring Use and Damages

DND washroom facilities opening despite vandalism concerns

Jun 11, 2025 | 3:15 PM

The washroom facilities at the DND grounds will reopen to meet park use needs, despite concerns about vandalism.

The City of Vernon currently only unlocks the facilities between April and October when there are bookings at the park due to previous vandalism incidents. A city staff report stated the washrooms incurred $20,000 in damages in a 2021 vandalism incident, adding the park was not as heavily trafficked at others such as Polson Park and Marshall field, which prompted this practice.

However, with the new playground at the DND grounds being heavily used, Councillor Akbal Mund put forward a motion at the regular meeting Monday to adjust those service hours to be open from dawn to dusk starting June 16 until October 17.

“There’s people actually driving up there to play on that playground now, unlike before, so there are people up there,” Mund said Monday.

Council agreed with Mund that the facilities should be available for all park users, though noted they wanted to address the concerns about vandalism and asked staff to monitor use and damages in case the policy needed to be changed.

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Council voted in favour of having the washrooms open from dawn to dusk between June 1 and October 17, at a cost of no more than $10,000, funded through the Prior Year Unexpended Uncommitted Balance.

Along with monitoring the washrooms’ condition and use, staff was also tasked with bringing forward a service adjustment report for including those operating hours for consideration during the 2026 budget deliberations.