Drug use, death in Arne Hanna bathrooms prompts facility updates. Here’s what’s planned
The Arne Hanna Aquatic Center in Bellingham will soon have new locks on its lobby bathrooms after several instances of illegal drug use in the facilities — one resulting in a death.
In early July, the city signed a contract to install new locks on the center’s two lobby restroom doors, which are expected to be installed in the next week or two, according to City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation Director Nicole Oliver.
The locks, which cost about $2,300, are meant to help staff “better monitor legitimate restroom use,” Oliver told The Bellingham Herald.
“We’re really trying to err on the side of caution to protect our staff, community and patrons,” Oliver said.
The restroom doors will stay locked at all times and patrons will have to ask to be let into the restroom with a new 10-minute time limit for use.
“It’s going to put another duty on our cashiers who have to let people in but we feel it’s absolutely essential,” Oliver said.
Documented drug use
As recently as Sunday, July 9, Arne Hanna was closed after a person was found in the center’s lobby restroom smoking a drug that has not been officially identified. To allow the facility to properly air out, the center was closed for the remainder of the day.
The person found to be smoking was escorted out by the facility’s on-site security guard. Police were notified but did not respond to the incident. However, emergency medical staff did respond to evaluate staff members who were not feeling well after being exposed to the smoke, Oliver told The Herald.
Arne Hanna was also closed in April after a death occurred inside the facility bathrooms due to an apparent drug overdose.
Total overdose deaths in Whatcom County increased to 89 in 2022, up from 50 in 2021, according to the Whatcom County Medical Examiner’s Office.
More than half of those deaths were linked to fentanyl, according to previous reporting by the Bellingham Herald. Bellingham firefighters are treating patients for suspected overdoses at the rate of 2.5 times per day this year, Mayor Seth Fleetwood told the City Council in April.
Bathroom access for everyone
Oliver said the Parks Department is committed to keeping public restrooms open to the community, although the Maritime Heritage Park outdoor bathroom has been closed due to improper use which made it time-consuming and challenging to maintain, Oliver told The Herald.
The park does have aporta potty and restrooms in the main park building.
“Everyone is welcome in any park,” Oliver said. “We want people to come and feel safe.”
Public access to showers
This change to the facilities won’t remove access to the shower facilities at Arne Hanna as the lobby restrooms only offer access to toilets and sinks.
Arne Hanna does have showers available in the family changing room and large locker rooms but those facilities already require people to sign in for use. They also have an existing 30-minute time limit, according to Oliver.
Oliver told The Herald that Bellingham’s Parks and Recreation Department is actively pursuing alternative locations for community showers.
Some have complained about the shower facilities at Arne Hanna being used by the homeless. Lighthouse Mission Ministries’ Base Camp shelter offers free showers and public restrooms.
The Way Station project planned to be operational in downtown Bellingham next year will also offer showers, laundry and restroom facilities to anyone on a walk-in basis.
