TOWER- “This will be good for everybody,” said Nancy Larson, who helped write the grants used to fund the new “Green Flush” restroom building being installed at the Tower Train Depot/mini-park area. The new restroom is located by the trailhead to the Mesabi Trail, and near the caboose.
Larson said volunteers who work at the Tower-Soudan Historical Society’s Depot Museum often heard requests for a restroom. The civic center restroom was only open limited hours, and the city’s mini-park has no facilities.
Public restrooms were also identified as a priority during the public meetings held during the creation of the Tower Area Trails Plan. The civic center/depot location is looked at as a trailhead for the city’s bike, hiking, ski, and river trails.
“We were originally looking at putting in a vault toilet,” Larson said. “But this unit is connected to utilities and will be open year round.”
The city has seen increased use of the Mesabi Trail and of city hiking trails the past few years. The city is also working with Breitung Township on finally getting the “loop trail” completed, which will complete a six-mile paved loop between the communities and two campgrounds.
The Green Flush was purchased with grant funding from the IRRR regional trails program. The cost for the building was $186,000, plus about $50,000 for the site prep to connect it to sewer, water, and electrical system. The building contains separate men’s and women’s flush toilets, and include sinks and baby changing tables. The toilets and sinks are designed to use 70-percent less water than conventional restrooms. The restrooms are accessible and designed for all ages.
The building will be heated in the winter, so it can be used by snowmobilers on the Taconite Trail, and hikers and snowshoers on the Ancient Cedars Trail.
The Green Flush building arrived in Tower on the back of a large semi-truck, and it was hoisted into place with a crane last Thursday. The restroom building comes completely “furnished.” The city is having the plumbing connected to the underground utilities this coming week. The final step is connecting to Minnesota Power, which the city is currently getting scheduled.
The project ties in with other improvements in the area, including the creation of the canoe/kayak launch area, and then future plans for a trail connecting the mini-park to the harbor and river areas, plus upgrades to the city’s playground area by the train.
“We will be looking at grant opportunities from the IRRR and DNR for these projects,” said city clerk-treasurer Michael Schultz, who said they are looking at playground equipment that is appropriate for older children to complement the playground already in place, as well as the idea of a pavilion for outdoor performances.