Improving Visitor Comfort with Modern Restroom Buildings
The DuPage Forest Preserve District manages one of the most respected and heavily used forest preserve systems in Illinois. With millions of visitors each year, the district is committed to providing clean, safe, and reliable amenities that support outdoor recreation while protecting natural spaces.
To meet growing visitor demand, the County planned several new flush restroom buildings to replace aging facilities and improve access across multiple forest preserves. These buildings needed to be comfortable, easy to maintain, and designed to last for decades. The County also required facilities that could support modern plumbing systems and meet accessibility standards.
Romtec was brought into the project early to help design the custom restroom buildings to meet project goals and site-specific need for each location. Romtec offers a variety of restroom buildings with limitless design flexibility. The County selected a site-built solution that allowed for deeper site-specific engineering, supporting better material choices, and long-term performance. The result is a coordinated restroom program that improves the visitor experience while supporting efficient operations.
New Flush Restroom Buildings Improve Forest Preserves Across DuPage County, Illinois
The flush restroom buildings are located at four forest preserves across DuPage County, Illinois:
• Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve – Willowbrook, Illinois
• Mallard Lake Forest Preserve – Bloomingdale, Illinois
• Wood Dale Grove Forest Preserve – Addison, Illinois
• Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve – Bartlett, Illinois
Each location serves different types of visitors, from hikers and cyclists to families and organized groups. Site conditions varied at each preserve, including access routes, grading, and utility connections. Romtec worked closely with the County to ensure each restroom building fit the needs of its specific location while maintaining a consistent design across all sites.
State-of-the-Art Flush Restroom Buildings
The project was completed in multiple phases and includes eight fully plumbed restroom buildings. Each building was designed to handle high daily use while remaining easy to clean and maintain. These are state-of-the-art public restroom buildings built for long-term reliability in harsh environments.
Key facility features include:
• Baby changing stations to support families
• Modern plumbing fixtures designed for durability
• Drinking fountains with bottle-filling stations
• Unisex restroom layouts that improve accessibility and comfort
• Mechanical Space for easy maintenance
Each restroom building was designed as a complete system. Romtec provided architectural, structural, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical design services. Existing well-water systems owned by the County were fully integrated into the building designs, allowing the facilities to operate as true flushing restrooms rather than a system with limited water systems.
Durable Design with Flexible Enhancements
During the design and review process, several building enhancements were added to meet District standards and long-term goals.
These included:
• Heavy Duty Door louvers and door closers
• High performance flush valves
• Top of the line Door Locks
• Well Placed Wall hydrants for maintenance use
• Tempered glass mirrors
• Emergency lighting systems
• Occupancy sensors
• Roof reinforcement designed to support future solar panels
Many of these improvements were incorporated with little or no added cost. Romtec’s site-built design approach allowed changes to be made during the process, something that is often difficult or impossible with prefabricated restroom buildings. A single standardized plan set was used for each phase, helping streamline reviews and approvals.
Phase Complete DuPage County Forest Preserves
Delivering restroom buildings across multiple active forest preserves required careful planning, flexibility, and close coordination. Each site had different access conditions, schedules, and review needs, all while remaining open to the public. By identifying challenges early and adjusting as conditions changed, the overall program stayed on track without disrupting park operations.
Romtec’s project management team supported the County and contractor from stamped, engineered plans through fully installed facilities. Clear communication and consistent scheduling across all locations allowed the restroom buildings to be delivered ahead of schedule while keeping each site moving forward smoothly.
The completed facilities now provide DuPage County visitors with reliable, comfortable, and durable restroom buildings designed for heavy public use. These improvements represent a long-term investment in park infrastructure that enhances the visitor experience, supports daily operations, and serves the community for years to come.
Long-Term Restroom Solutions for DuPage County
The new flush restroom buildings in DuPage County, Illinois represent a major upgrade to park infrastructure. Designed and supplied by Romtec, these facilities improve comfort, accessibility, and reliability for visitors across four forest preserves, with additional buildings planned in future phases. Romtec supported the county early with site-specific design coordination, helping align each building with access conditions, utility connections, and long-term maintenance goals.
With running water, modern fixtures, baby changing stations, and durable construction, these custom restroom buildings are built to serve the public for decades. Through Romtec’s in-house design services, each facility was tailored to its site while meeting performance, accessibility, and durability requirements. By choosing a site-built solution instead of prefabricated restroom buildings, the District gained flexibility, stronger engineering, and long-term value. Romtec delivered facilities that meet today’s needs while preparing for future growth.