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Signs hang on restroom doors Wednesday at Apodaca Park informing patrons that park bathrooms will be locked for a few days over the holidays. It is the first time the city has not scheduled park maintenance workers to work over the Christmas and New Year's holidays.
For the City of Las Cruces Parks Department website, click here.

LAS CRUCES - If you're planning on spending any part of the Christmas or New Year's holidays at any city park, you had better heed the advice of parents everywhere, and go to the bathroom before you leave the house.

Restrooms will be closed to the public. The closures begin today and continue through Sunday. The same drill will be in effect next week, when restrooms will be closed from Dec. 30 through Jan. 2.

City facilities director said the primary reason for closing the park restrooms is to give maintenance employees with the city's Parks Department some time off for the holidays.

"It's a first for us," said Brian Denmark, of the park restroom closures. "These park employees have never had a holiday off; they've had to work those days to provide services for residents. But the decision was made (by city administration) to finally give them some time off for the holidays to spend with their families, as a way of showing them some appreciation for all of their hard work."

"Kind of strange," said Las Crucen Penny Bustos, after reading a sign Wednesday that was taped to the door of a women's restroom at Apodaca Park warning park users of the upcoming closures. "Usually, they're open all the time, unless something's broken down or the city is doing some kind of remodeling or work."

Except for restrooms at

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the Hadley Complex, on Hadley Avenue, and at the skate park just south of the intersection of Hadley and Walnut Street, all other park restrooms will be closed.

Christmas and New Year's have traditionally been the holidays when parks have least been used. Denmark said the city will also save money in holiday and overtime pay for employees who would have to maintain the parks on those days.

The closures will affect as many as 20 city employees and 10 parks that have restrooms.

Steve Ramirez can be reached at (575) 541-5452.

You'll have to hold it

•Public restrooms at all city parks will be closed today through Sunday, and next week from Dec. 30 until Jan. 2.

•The closures are being done to allow maintenance employees to spend the holidays with their families.

•Closure of the restrooms will also save the city holiday pay and overtime for those employees.

•Restrooms at the Hadley Complex, on Hadley Avenue, and at the skate park, near the intersection of Hadley and Walnut Street, will remain open.

•Information: Parks and Recreation administrative office, (575) 541-2550. Hearing impaired residents can call (575) 541-2661.