The Town of Amherstburg council approved a $190,000 project on February 23, 2026, to renovate the washrooms at Austin ‘Toddy’ Jones Park in Ontario. These upgrades will allow the washrooms to stay open through the winter months instead of closing during the cold season as they do now.
Council awarded the construction contract to Valente Contracting Inc. for $156,640.04 plus HST. The work includes a total roof replacement and adding new insulation, along with electrical and mechanical improvements to keep the pipes from freezing and meet modern standards for ventilation.
The park washrooms were shut down for the current season on February 6, 2026, because the building was not designed to stay warm. Once the new roof and insulation are installed, the facility will be equipped for year-round use.
To pay for the project, the town had to find an extra $60,000 to cover a budget gap. This money was moved from other roofing projects, including $40,000 originally meant for the police headquarters roof system, $15,000 from the King’s Navy Yard Park privy, and $5,000 from a roofing contingency fund.
Having open washrooms all year is expected to help visitors and people organizing local events like the River Lights winter festival. The renovations will provide reliable amenities in the downtown area regardless of the weather.
