Romtec recently had another opportunity to work with the City of Iowa City and Snyder Associates on project, called Willow Creek, to improve the parks in Iowa City. Romtec had worked with both the City of Iowa City and Snyder & Associates on the previous Creekside Park and Weatherby Park projects.

For the Willow Creek Park project, the City was making improvements to make the park more accessible for users of varying abilities and was in need of an ADA restroom and a large pavilion for guests. The restroom structure that the City wanted for Willow Creek Park was similar to the structure Romtec supplied for Creekside Park, with some alterations to better fit the needs of the park’s regular guests.

Willow Creek Park is a peaceful 27.2 acre park in Iowa City, Iowa which was acquired by the city in 1972. Ithas all the makings of a great park with picnic tables, grills, softball/baseball fields, paved trails, and even a Hospice Memorial Garden. In a virtual tour posted on the City of Iowa City’s website, prospective guests can see the wide-open fields, recreation areas, and interesting wood carvings that can be found at the park.

Snyder & Associates worked with the City of Iowa City to begin improvements at the Willow Creek Park and brought this project to Romtec for the supply of a restroom/mechanical building and a 36’x20’ pavilion. In addition to the Romtec structures, the improvements made at the park include a playground with a “poured in place rubber surface and a variety of play features for a wide range of users”; an adult changing station in the restroom, paved sidewalks, and more.

The Romtec supplied restroom is a single user restroom that is accessible from the face of the structure, with an attached mechanical room that is accessible from the rear. The single unisex restroom is American Disability Act (ADA) compliant with enough room to maneuver a wheelchair. Entrance to the restroom is underneath the breezeway of the structure, which also features dual drinking fountains for clean and accessible drinking water at the park.

The structure of the restroom is composed of a smooth face gray block with aa combination of lap and board & batten siding on the gable ends of the structure. The roof is a hardy metal roofing in weathered copper with a skylight that provides the interior of the structure with pleasant natural lighting. Louvers in the door help to provide natural ventilation and assist a through-the-wall ventilator in providing the building with fresh air and reducing odor build up.

Romtec supplied a 36’x20’ pavilion to match the restroom with weathered copper roofing and timber posts and beams. Both of the structures were constructed on site by All American Concrete, whose hard work has provided further opportunities for guests of any ability to enjoy the calm and peaceful atmosphere at Willow Creek Park.