by Brianna Crandall — December 2, 2020 — Specialized workplace products and services provider Cintas Corporation recently proclaimed the TikTok-famous self-cleaning restrooms at Bancroft Park in Colorado Springs, Colorado, the winner of the 2020 America’s Best Restroom contest. The seriously fun contest recognizes the importance of clean, stylish restrooms on customer retention — more important than ever with this year’s COVID-19 concerns.
As this year’s winner, the City of Colorado Springs will get to properly crown their golden thrones with prizes from Cintas. This includes a Cintas UltraClean restroom cleaning service and $2,500 in Cintas products and services for restroom cleaning or facilities management (FM)to keep their restrooms Ready for the Workday, along with a coveted spot in the America’s Best Restroom Hall of Fame.
According to Cintas, the self-cleaning restroom in Bancroft Park is a welcome amenity for residents and visitors who are seeking a clean park facility. It holds three restrooms, including an ADA-compliant option, and each comes with green, red and yellow lights to show availability. Soap, water, toilet paper and a dryer are all activated with the wave of a hand. The restrooms are set up to self-clean after every 30 uses, and a park maintenance supervisor is alerted via an app when toilet paper or other supplies are running low. The exterior is wrapped with historic photos and facts about the historic Old Colorado City neighborhood where it is located.
Karen Palus, Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services director, commented:
We’re very proud to win this award since opening these new restrooms just a few short months ago. The amount of recognition we’ve received is a testament to the value people place in hygienic and memorable public restrooms. We’re grateful for everyone who voted for our facility.
In its 19th year, the America’s Best Restroom contest, hosted by Cintas, celebrates innovative and hygienic public restrooms across the country. Bancroft Park was one of 10 finalists that were selected based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements. The public had the opportunity to vote for the following 10 finalists (in alphabetical order) between September 24 and October 19:
- AirTrain JFK’S Jamaica Station — New York, NY
- Bancroft Park — Colorado Springs, CO
- DFW Airport — DFW Airport, TX
- Gaslight Bar & Grill — Cincinnati, OH
- Greeley Square Park — New York, NY
- Kimpton Muse Hotel — New York, NY
- Portland Japanese Garden — Portland, OR
- Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts — Scottsdale, AZ
- Swift’s Attic — Austin, TX
- The Guild Hotel — San Diego, CA
Sean Mulcahey, marketing manager, Cintas, pointed out:
With the COVID-19 pandemic, occupant expectations are higher than they’ve ever been. We’re proud to honor the City of Colorado Springs with this award, as they’ve implemented technology to make cleaning a priority at their unique restrooms.
Last year, the America’s Best Restroom award went to the Nashville Zoo for featuring two innovative exhibits. The men’s Entry Village restroom is home to a Boelen’s python, and the women’s restroom in Expedition Peru is the home to the Zoo’s family of six cotton-top tamarins, a critically endangered primate species from South America.
To view photos of winners and finalists from 2020 and previous years, visit the America’s Best Restroom Hall of Fame page. For more information about the America’s Best Restroom contest or to nominate a restroom for the 20th annual contest, visit the website.
Cintas Corp. provides products and services including uniforms, mats, mops, restroom supplies, first aid and safety products, fire extinguishers and testing, and safety and compliance training, helping more than 1 million businesses of all types and sizes get “Ready for the Workday” every day.
