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KITCHENER — The washroom building at Kitchener’s McLennan Park will remain closed this year as the city studies the former landfill’s sinking soils.

Ringed with fencing, the washrooms — typically open three seasons a year — have been off limits for all of this year and most of 2021.

In 2020, the washrooms were significantly vandalized, and subsequently rebuilt, twice.

But the building’s challenges lie deeper than a persistent threat of costly vandalism.

The washrooms — indeed, much of the park’s infrastructure — are susceptible to ongoing sinking, as the decomposing garbage below the surface settles and shifts.

Portions of the asphalt plaza surrounding the washrooms are collapsing away from the building’s foundation, leaving holes around the perimeter.

“That plaza and the footings of the washrooms have seen some fairly significant subsidence,” said the city’s director of parks and cemeteries, Niall Lobley.

“It’s led us to being unable to maintain a safe access into the washrooms,” he said. “We’re talking inches a year. It’s quite significant.”

A row of portable toilets stand in lieu, just outside the fence.

Both Lobley and Ward 6 Coun. Paul Singh agree it’s not an ideal compromise.

“Porta-potties aren’t a suitable solution” for one of the city’s largest parks, Singh said. “We want to make sure parkgoers have a good experience at McLennan Park.”

Singh said he pushed to have a portable washroom trailer brought in when he was told the building would stay closed again this year, but staff were concerned it would be targeted by vandals as well.

While he was anticipating complaints about the closure, Lobley said his department has only received occasional service requests for the portables.

During a recent outing to the park, Kitchener resident Val Krokoszynski said it would be nice to be able to use proper washroom facilities when she and her grandson visit.

“We’ve been coming here for probably six or seven years, and rarely have we been able to use that washroom.”

The building may be the most visible victim of a landscape in flux, but there are impacts across the park.

Drainage problems at the splash pad and dog park. Cracks in the road. Basketball courts that aren’t as flat as they should be.

Several years ago, methane gas was found to be building up in drainage pipes below the grass instead of migrating naturally to a collection system on the park’s perimeter. Around the same time, sinking soils caused a sewer line under the washrooms to collapse.

More recently, the concrete skatebowl had to be removed, and a five-metre tall aluminum sculpture called “Moments” was taken down after developing a lean.

“There was an awareness it was going to be complex,” Lobley said of the park, which was officially completed in 2011, 35 years after the landfill closed. “I think it has proven to be more complex and more complicated.”

The city and Waterloo Region share responsibility for the park’s upkeep — the region is responsible for underground landfill operations, while the city oversees above-ground park amenities and care.

Kitchener launched a thorough, expert study of the park a couple of months ago, with a report anticipated next year.

“They’re going to be looking at everything to do with the site,” Lobley said, with recommendations on what needs to be added, repaired or replaced down the road.

“It’s far too early to say what this park will look like in five, 10 years’ time.” Lobley is hopeful some of the initial work explores a fix for the washroom situation.

The region will also embark on its own work at the park this summer.

“In the next couple of weeks, the region will start work to repair and replace existing underground infrastructure to improve gas collection,” the region’s Chad Schwartzentruber said in an email.

“Once that is complete, the region will also improve the surface grading in the project area.”

Despite its challenges, Singh remains committed to McLennan Park, and said extensive public consultation should be conducted to help shape its future.

“It receives a lot of visitors, and it’s enjoyed by many, citywide,” he said. “We do have to find long-term solutions.”

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