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The Pee Path


The playground is at Lake Elkhorn. Have you been there? Our youngest grew up playing there. 



The problem? You can’t see it. It’s public restrooms - -  there aren’t any. Well, there are restrooms way on the other side of the park, far from the playground. And they aren’t reliably open to the public. A poster on the Columbia Reddit (Lake Elkhorn Restrooms) notes that people are relieving themselves in the woods behind the Pavilion. They note:

What hasn't been great, is that no one has a solution to having accessible restrooms (even a Port-a-Potty) at Lake Elkhorn.

In a related thread in Columbia Reddit, here is a photograph entitled “Desire Path.”



Image from Reddit thread, Columbia Reddit


One response jokingly called it a “Pee Path.”

If you aren’t familiar with the area, this shows the straight shot from the playground, across Cradlerock, to the McDonald’s at the Owen Brown Village Center. When there are no public restrooms it’s your closest option. Many, many feet, both big and little, have worn down a trail into the Village Center landscaping. Maybe the folks in charge over there should adress the desire path and make it safer to traverse. (May I suggest a ramp rather than steps so it is accessible to all?)

And maybe Columbia Association can address the very normal issue of kids needing nearby bathrooms.

I found this anecdote interesting:

I remember a few years ago took my son to the playground and someone from CA was there just casually asking people "is there anything you'd do to improve this playground? Don't say bathrooms." And I stared a moment and said "I'm not allowed to say bathrooms?" And he said "no," so I said "then no. Nothing I would do." And then they added an extra picnic table. So I'm glad that survey got the ball rolling on the crucial 3rd table we desperately needed.

How many people do you know who never need to use a restroom? I don’t think I know any. And how many children do you know who never have urgent bathroom emergencies?

I’m absolutely sure that number is zero.

Lake Elkhorn is one of my favorite places in Columbia. Having clean, accessible bathrooms (that are open!) located near the children’s play area would be a blessing. 

What do you think?


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  1. Julia A. McCreadyApril 14, 2026 at 4:05 AM

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