Comfort Station Replacement at Little River Canyon National Preserve

Problem

The existing double vault toilet comfort station serving the Main Falls parking area at Little River Canyon National Preserve was no longer adequate to support current visitation levels. The parking area accommodates approximately 150 vehicles and experiences heavy seasonal use, particularly during spring through fall.

Specific challenges included:

• The existing facility could not accommodate peak visitor demand, resulting in operational and odor issues.

• Persistent odor concerns were attributed to heavy usage and limited ventilation.

• The facility did not fully meet current accessibility expectations for visitor use.

• Site constraints, including shallow bedrock, limited utilities, and high visitor traffic, required careful consideration during planning and design.

Solution

HECO Engineers provided planning and design services under a National Park Service task order to develop a replacement comfort station that addressed capacity, accessibility, and operational needs.

Key actions included:

• Conducting site investigations and coordinating with National Park Service staff to understand site conditions and operational requirements.

• Developing and evaluating multiple schematic design alternatives, supported by a Conceptual Stage Value Analysis, to identify a preferred solution.

• Advancing the selected alternative through Title II design services, including design development and preparation of construction documents.

• Designing replacement of the existing precast concrete dual vault toilet with two new, larger precast concrete dual vault restroom buildings, increasing the total number of fixtures from two to four.

• Incorporating Architectural Barriers Act Accessibility Standards (ABAAS)–compliant concrete flatwork and accessible routes connecting the restrooms to the parking area and nearby trail access.

• Designing extension of an existing municipal water service to support maintenance needs.

• Developing bid options for solar-powered ventilation systems to improve odor control and for parking lot restriping and accessibility improvements.

All work was completed in accordance with National Park Service standards, Denver Service Center design requirements, and applicable federal codes.

Results

The project resulted in the completion of comprehensive design development and construction documents intended to support a future National Park Service construction contract.

Documented results include:

• A fully developed, bid-ready design for replacement of the Main Falls comfort station.

• Improved restroom capacity and accessibility incorporated into the design.

• Clear documentation of base bid work and optional improvements to support phased construction or funding flexibility.

Construction outcomes were not documented in the available source material.

Supporting Visitor-Focused Infrastructure

Through careful planning and design coordination, HECO Engineers delivered a compliant and site-sensitive restroom replacement design that addresses documented capacity and accessibility challenges while supporting the National Park Service’s long-term management and visitor service goals at Little River Canyon National Preserve.