“As Olympic City USA, Colorado Springs is committed to the Olympic Values of excellence, friendship and respect, but make no mistake about it, we want to win any competition we find ourselves in,” said Mayor John Suthers at the award ceremony. “With that competitive spirit in mind, as Mayor of Colorado Springs, and on behalf of the residents of our great city, I humbly accept the acclaim for being home to the best restroom in America for 2020. It is only fitting and proper that the city ranked by U.S. News and World Report as the most desirable place in America to live should be home to the most desirable restroom in America.”
The self-cleaning restroom in Bancroft Park is a welcome amenity for residents and visitors who are seeking a clean park facility. It offers three restrooms, including an ADA-compliant option, and each comes with green, red and yellow lights to show availability. Soap, water, toilet paper and a dryer are all activated with the wave of a hand. The restrooms self-clean after every 30 uses, and a park maintenance supervisor is alerted via an app when toilet paper or other supplies are running low. The exterior is wrapped with historic photos and facts about the historic Old Colorado City neighborhood where it’s located.
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“We’re very proud to win this award since opening these new restrooms just a few short months ago,” said Karen Palus, Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services director. “The amount of recognition we’ve received is a testament to the value people place in hygienic and memorable public restrooms. We’re grateful for everyone who voted for our facility.”
In its 19th year, the America’s Best Restroom contest, hosted by Cintas, celebrates innovative and hygienic public restrooms across the country. Bancroft Park was one of 10 finalists that were selected based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements. The public had the opportunity to vote for the following 10 finalists (in alphabetical order) between Sept. 24 and Oct. 19:
- AirTrain JFK’S Jamaica Station – New York, NY
- Bancroft Park – Colorado Springs, Colorado
- DFW Airport – DFW Airport, Texas
- Gaslight Bar & Grill – Cincinnati, Ohio
- Greeley Square Park – New York, New York
- Kimpton Muse Hotel – New York, New York
- Portland Japanese Garden – Portland, Oregon
- Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts – Scottsdale, Arizona
- Swift’s Attic – Austin, Texas
- The Guild Hotel – San Diego, California
“With the COVID-19 pandemic, occupant expectations are higher than they’ve ever been,” said Sean Mulcahey, Marketing Manager, Cintas. “We’re proud to honor the City of Colorado Springs with this award as they’ve implemented technology to make cleaning a priority at their unique restrooms.”
Last year, the America’s Best Restroom award went to the Nashville Zoo for featuring two innovative exhibits. The men’s Entry Village restroom is home to a Boelen's python, and the women’s restroom in Expedition Peru is the home to the Zoo’s family of six cotton-top tamarins, a critically endangered primate species from South America.