Trail toilet dedicated in Black Forest

County officials, hikers and community members gathered at Black Forest’s Section 16 Saturday morning for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

All for a toilet at the trailhead.

“It’s a lifesaver,” said Tiffin Perkins, 45. “I’m thankful for it.”

She and her husband, with their two dogs, were out on the trail Saturday morning. They live in nearby Falcon.

“All our walks are here,” she said, adding that she regularly meets friends to enjoy the park.

Betsy Loftan, 68, often rides her horses in the park. She praised the addition.

“It’s a lot more convenient than a horse trailer,” she said. “It’s a really nice park, and this makes it even nicer.”

Installation of the shiny new facility — a modern version of the classic outhouse — was completed in early November, and it’s seen constant use since then. A time lock keeps it closed when the park isn’t open overnight.

“It doesn’t look like much, but it’s a big deal for the community,” said Larry Fariss, president of the Black Forest Trail Association. “This facility will be used a lot.”

Section 16 in Black Forest attracts a regular stream of hikers — many with dogs — horse riders and cyclists. The loop is about four miles long.

“It’s been open for several years,” Tobias said. “You never find this park empty.”

For a while, there was a portable toilet in the parking lot.

That toilet was removed when several replacements were needed after repeated vandalism.

Tobias said she saw a vault toilet at another park, and thought it would be the perfect solution.

El Paso County Parks said they would cover most of the roughly $20,000 for the project, but the Black Forest Trail Association had to raise at least $5,000. The group raised about $7,000.

It’s not often the term state-of-the-art is applied to a toilet, but that is what several officials called the vault facility.

The new toilet is a source of relief: Now trail users won’t be forced to leave their own messes the woods.

—

Contact Kristina Iodice: 636-0162 Twitter @GazetteKristina Facebook Kristina Iodice