As part of its plan to accommodate a large increase in cruise ship visitors this summer, Sitka is offering grants of $1,000 or more to businesses and other entities that will open their bathrooms to the public.
The community is expecting ships with capacity to carry close to half-a-million passengers this summer, more than double the pre-COVID year of 2019.
The city posted the grant application on its website last Thursday. The city’s tourism office, Visit Sitka, will direct visitors to the locations of the public facilities using maps, social media, websites, signs and information kiosks.
Increasing the availability of public restrooms in downtown Sitka is an important component of the short-term tourism plan adopted by the Sitka assembly to ease the impact of so many tourists in the downtown corridor this summer, the city said in its announcement.
In addition to any businesses that open their doors, restrooms will be available at Harrigan Centennial Hall, the library, city hall, at the city’s permanent stand-alone restrooms at the corner of Lincoln Street and Harbor Drive, under the bridge, and in Crescent Harbor Park.
The Public Works Department said three portable stand-alone units with flush toilets and sinks are on order. Their placement has not yet been decided.
Applicants seeking grants for making their restrooms available to the public must agree to keep the facilities available to the public during the hours the business or entity is open from May 1 to Sept. 30, and keep the facilities in good working order, clean and appropriately stocked.
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