Terwillegar toilets back after year of arson vandalism
Portable bathrooms reinstated at southwest Edmonton park following six fires in 2025; daily monitoring now in place.
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Portable toilets have been reinstated at Terwillegar Park after being destroyed six times by fire over the past year.
The bathrooms were torched in January, February, June, July, August, and September 2025, leaving parkgoers without facilities and staff frustrated by the repeated vandalism. The units were reinstated last month following the costly cycle of replacements.
Ward pihêsiwin Coun. Mike Elliott said daily monitoring and regular ranger patrols are now in place due to ongoing vandalism concerns. "If arson incidents continue, units may need to be removed until a permanent solution is found," he wrote on social media.
The city is exploring vandal-resistant permanent washroom options but says funding remains a challenge. In early September, all that remained of the damaged toilets were burn marks on the ground and a charred welcome sign—a stark image that frustrated residents who depend on the park.
Until a permanent solution is built, the cycle of replacement and protection continues.