Sanibel's 'Ding' Darling national wildlife refuge makes restrooms artsy, educational

The News-Press

Toni Westland, supervisor refuge ranger at J.N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel talks about the new exhibit at the visitors center during an unveiling on Friday. The new learning Lavatories funded by a $125,000 grant from the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) and contributions from private donors, Project #LearningLav has created educational imagery inside the center’s lavatories and on the outdoor wall leading to them. The the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) says only about one-quarter of visitors who travel the refuge's famed Wildlife Drive stop at the visitor center either before or after their trip. The friends groups hopes those visitors who pop into the restroom will be enticed by the images and information there, to proceed into the visitor center.

With bathroom humor and a toilet paper ribbon-cutting, J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge rolled out its newest exhibit:

Learning lavatories.

It’s no joke. These are working public restrooms and a covered walkway located just outside the refuge education center.

They’ve morphed from institutional bland to bold — with animal sculptures and murals. They've gotten more "green," aka environmentally friendly. It's a work in progress: Soon the graphic displays will sport a few factoids.

“We wanted to transform a necessary nature call into an innovative nature enthrall,” cracked Refuge Manager Paul Tritaik, speaking to a throng of about 30 friends and staffers at Friday’s grand reveal of the restroom redo.

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The transformation comes just in time for “Ding” Darling Days, Sunday, through Oct. 21, a week of live critter presentations, birding, biking, paddling, boating and tram tours and free admission to Wildlife Drive.

The restroom project originated from identifying “a major missed opportunity for educating visitors,” said Birgie Miller, executive director of the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge.

The new Learning Lavatories (#LearningLav) exhibit at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge debuts to the public on Friday, Oct. 13. Funded by a $125,000 grant from the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) and contributions from private donors, Project #LearningLav has created educational imagery inside the center’s lavatories and on the outdoor wall leading to them. Inside, the lavatories were renovated to green standards and continue the interpretive underwater motif, featuring a photo-tile mangroves mural and more wildlife sculptures. In coming weeks, stall doors will be wrapped with wildlife imagery. The refuge will also add educational teaser messages and an activity sheet to accompany the exhibit. They will be designed to entice visitors into the Visitor and Education Center to learn more. In the photo are staff from the refuge and the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge

Each year, the refuge welcomes nearly 1 million visitors to Wildlife Drive, the four-mile, one-way road that takes motorists, cyclists and hikers through portions of the preserve that is home to more than 200 species of birds, alligators, mangrove forests, and more.

Only about a quarter of those who travel Wildlife Drive step into the refuge's Visitor/Education Center to see “all of our wonderful educational exhibits,” Miller said.

Admission to the education center is free. It has interactive exhibits about the many animals living in the refuge, knowledgeable folks who can field questions – and a gift shop.

It also offers visitors tools to better explore outdoors, including binoculars for loan while in the refuge, a guide to duck calls, and information about a free smartphone app on which users can view real-time wildlife sightings, post pictures, and play a wildlife trivia game.

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The entrance to the education center is just a few steps away from the public restrooms. It seemed plausible the restrooms could be changed to call more attention to the education center.

The refuge friends group enlisted creative folks, hatched a plan – and raised the money.

A $125,000 grant from the West Coast Inland Navigation District and contributions from private donors paid for the restroom renovations.

Local artist and FGCU grad Andrew Corke fashioned a mother and baby manatee out of recycled bike tires from Billy’s Rentals on Sanibel.

Don Breiter and Missy Scoville get a look at the new restrooms at the visitors center at J.N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge on Friday. The new learning Lavatories funded by a $125,000 grant from the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) and contributions from private donors, Project #LearningLav has created educational imagery inside the center’s lavatories and on the outdoor wall leading to them. The the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) says only about one-quarter of visitors who travel the refuge's famed Wildlife Drive stop at the visitor center either before or after their trip. The friends groups hopes those visitors who pop into the restroom will be enticed by the images and information there, to proceed into the visitor center.

North Carolina artist David Williams sculpted other creatures out of foam and fiberglass, and painted the murals.

In coming weeks, the restroom stall doors will be wrapped with wildlife imagery and some snippets of nature knowledge.

Visitors Paul Brown and Laurel Brown, of Long Island, toured the restrooms. They have a condo unit on Sanibel, and over the past 21 years “walked through and driven through” the refuge many times.

The learning lavatories? “Fantastic,” Paul Brown said, adding; “it’s not something I’d have in my house.”

At a glance

What: J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge

Where: One Wildlife Drive, Sanibel Island, Florida

Phone: 239-472-1100
Online: www.fws.gov
Education Center hours: Vary, call for information
Wildlife Drive: Open from sunrise-sunset every day except Friday
Fees:
Education Center: Free
Wildlife Drive: $5/car, $1/bike or pedestrian (under 16 free)