GREENFIELD — Public works employees are preparing the site at the southeast corner of the parking lot between Chapman and Davis streets, near the new skate park, for the arrival of a Portland Loo later this month.

According to Public Works Director Marlo Warner II, the long-awaited standalone restroom is expected to arrive on Nov. 14, and installation will likely take a few days.

“There’s a lot of precursor work that’s being done,” he explained. That includes setting up the water, sewer and electric connections.

In November 2021, Mayor Roxann Wedegartner set aside $200,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to buy the Portland Loo, a standalone restroom “specifically designed to prevent problems that are commonly experienced in public toilets,” the company’s website states. Warner said this week that the restroom, which was manufactured by Madden Fabrication, ultimately cost $152,315.

All installation work will be done in-house, he said, allowing the city to keep the cost below the $200,000 allocation.

He previously said the purchase includes a hand-washing station, a trash receptacle, sharps containers and a baby changing table.

Originally, two other locations were considered for the Portland Loo, Warner said. Energy Park, however, had no accessible sewer, which would have “severely increased the cost,” he explained. The other location, at the pocket park on Bank Row (by the Olive Street Parking Garage) also lacked necessary utilities.

Its location by the new skate park will offer people a place to use the restroom even after businesses close, he said.

The decision to acquire this style of standalone restroom followed conversations in June 2021 that aired concerns over the state of the existing portable toilets in Greenfield, which have reportedly been used as trash receptacles for hypodermic needles. Wedegartner said at the time that the blue lights in the Portland Loo help to discourage illegal activity, as intravenous drug use is more difficult.

“I’m glad the project is underway,” Warner said, “and hopefully the weather holds to get everything done.”

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.