In the Wabash River Trail project, Romtec supplied a custom restroom building as part of an ongoing project to create a multi-use trail in Lagro, Indiana. A multi-phase project, this trail will follow the river and visitors can expect to “experience the best of the region’s small towns, active communities, pastoral landscapes, farm country, and historic features”, according to the Wabash River Trail Inc.’s website.
This multi-use trail is being developed by the Wabash River Trail (WRT) Inc. to bring more opportunities for outdoor recreation. It has a proposed length of 33 miles following along the Wabash river for most of its length and connecting to neighboring towns.
The trails will give residents an area to walk or bike, and open up outdoor areas for visitors to enjoy. In addition to the trails themselves, WRT Inc. plans for amenities such as trailheads, restrooms, river access sites, and more, to be constructed throughout the project.
The Romtec supplied building is a part of Phase 1A of the project. The building is a custom 2022 Sierra II Compact, with two unisex restrooms on the face of the building, and a mechanical room on the back. The entrance to the restrooms is covered with a gable roof extension, and a privacy wall, stretching across both entrances. The combination of the roof extension and privacy wall creates a breezeway like entrance for the restrooms, and shields the face of the building from the elements.
This hardy building is composed of split face block in a castle tan color with a stone wainscot accent by the installer, Mike Reed Construction. The privacy wall at the front of the building is composed of stone wainscot (by installer) and topped with a lumber privacy screen, mixing natural materials and providing a pleasing look for the restroom. The roof of this structure is composed of a metal in regal blue and matches the blue dual water fountain placed along the side of the building.
Inside of the building, the restroom walls are lined with Fiberglass Reinforced Panels (FRP), wall liners in bright white with a traditional pebble finish. The FRP liners provide a finished look to the restroom and will be easy to clean or replace. The fixtures in the restrooms are hardy, stainless steel, wall mounted fixtures that will be resistant to vandalism and damage.
To go the extra mile for guests, WRT, Inc. also opted for additional features to improve guest experiences. One additional feature is the inclusion of baby changing stations in the restrooms, which will allow parents on the trail to tend to their children in the privacy of the restroom. Heaters are also located in the facilities, as well as warm air hand dryers and tankless water heaters.
Wabash River Trail, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization focused on the creation of this trail, which will be primarily funded with private donations and grants. The vision is to have a long trail interconnecting nearby towns, to provide the area with easy opportunities to get outside, and to create a stronger bond between the community and the environment.