City begins winterizing park restrooms to prevent freeze damage

HAYS — The City of Hays Parks Department will begin closing and winterizing public restrooms in most city parks starting Monday to protect unheated plumbing from freeze damage during Kansas winter weather. Parks Director Jeff Boyle said the annual process, which takes several days to complete across the extensive park system, involves shutting off water, draining pipes and securing buildings to prevent costly emergency repairs from burst water lines and fixtures. All restroom facilities will be closed except the heated facility at Union Pacific Park at 10th and Main, which will remain open throughout winter, and the closed restrooms will reopen in spring, typically in April, as weather permits.