The Bend Park and Recreation District is reporting a spike in incidents at public bathrooms, including vandalism and drug use.
During 2023, the agency has produced 35 reports of “inappropriate restroom use” across its large network of parks. That’s an 84% increase over the same period in 2022, according to a news release. Thirty of the reports directly involved people using drugs or committing vandalism, a spokesperson said, while the other five involved people camping.
The district’s news release highlighted how instances of drug use and vandalism can lead to expensive repairs and closures.
The district has long used private security guards to patrol public property. Last June, it signed a 2-year contract with Trident Security worth $430,000.
In 2022, OPB reviewed incident reports produced by security guards over a two-year span and found many interactions with people experiencing homelessness.
In some cases, security guards placed tape on bathroom doors in an effort to catch people staying in bathrooms too long, reports show. Park security sometimes banned people from city parks for 30 days for using the bathroom for too long on multiple occasions.
The park district is a separate agency from the City of Bend, with its own elected officials and taxing district.