Public bathrooms in NYC: where to find one that is open today
New York City lists 1,066 public restrooms, and most are in parks and libraries. Here is how to find one that is open, and which ones have baby changing stations.
New York City has more public bathrooms than many people expect. Finding one that is open when you need it takes a little planning. A city dataset of public restrooms lists 1,066 sites, and nearly all of them are in parks and public libraries.
How many public bathrooms NYC has
NYC Parks and partners publish the NYC Open Data “Public Restrooms” dataset, which counts 1,066 public restrooms. By location type, they break down like this:
- Parks: 824
- Libraries: 216
- Privately owned public spaces: 14
- Public plazas: 7
- Transit: 5
More than three out of four public bathrooms in the dataset are in parks. If you need a restroom while you are out, try the nearest park or library branch first.
Park restrooms: the biggest network
NYC Parks runs most of the park restrooms in the dataset. They range from large sites such as Battery Park to neighborhood spots like Rienzi Playground and Lopez Playground. Big parks can have more than one restroom, so some listings include a zone name, such as “Battery Park Zone 1” or “Crotona Malls Zone 1.”
A few park restrooms have other operators. For example, the restroom in the Refinery Building at Domino Park lists Domino Park as its operator instead of NYC Parks.
Park bathrooms are the most likely to change with the seasons. The dataset notes that hours vary by site and that some restrooms are seasonal. A restroom that is open on a summer afternoon may keep different hours later in the year.
Public library bathrooms
Public library branches have 216 restrooms in the dataset, the second-largest group. The listings include Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) and New York Public Library (NYPL) branches, such as Fort Hamilton Library in Brooklyn and the Andrew Heiskell Braille and Talking Book Library.
Libraries are a good choice in bad weather or when a park restroom is closed. A library restroom is available only while the branch is open, and branches also close for work. Gravesend Library and Aguilar Library are both listed as closed for construction.
Plazas, privately owned public spaces and transit
A small number of restrooms are outside parks and libraries. The dataset lists 14 in privately owned public spaces, which are building plazas and indoor spaces that owners open to the public. It also lists seven in public plazas and five at transit locations.
With only five transit restrooms in the whole dataset, a subway trip is a poor time to count on finding a bathroom. Stop before you ride, and check service on the NYC transit page so a delay does not catch you out.
Check whether a public restroom is open before you go
A listing does not mean the bathroom is open. Of the 1,066 restrooms, the dataset marks 975 as operational, 73 as not operational, 17 as closed for construction and one as closed.
Several park restrooms are listed as not operational, including Battery Park Zone 1, Carl Schurz Main Lawn, Tappen Park and Crotona Malls Zone 1. Others are listed as operational, including Maspeth Park, Fort Hamilton Library and the Refinery Building at Domino Park. Status can change, so use any single listing as a starting point.
Each entry includes latitude and longitude, so you can put the listings on a map and find the ones closest to you.
Public bathrooms with baby changing stations
Parents have good odds. The dataset counts 795 restrooms with baby changing stations, about three out of four sites on the list.
Some restrooms do not have them. Rienzi Playground and the Andrew Heiskell library are listed without changing stations, and some entries leave the field blank. When a restroom is closed, the listing says so: Tappen Park and Crotona Malls Zone 1 show “N/A, restrooms closed.”
A quick plan for finding a bathroom in NYC today
- Start with the nearest park or library branch. Those two types make up almost all of the 1,066 sites.
- Check the listing’s status, and skip anything marked not operational or closed for construction.
- Expect hours to vary by site and by season, especially at park restrooms.
- In bad weather, or if a park restroom is closed, go to an open library branch.
- Do not count on the subway. Only five restrooms in the dataset are at transit locations.
It helps to know a neighborhood’s parks and libraries before you go. The neighborhood guides are a good place to start.
Sources
Every figure above comes from these official sources, checked on the day this was written.
Quick answers
How many public bathrooms are there in NYC?
The NYC Open Data Public Restrooms dataset lists 1,066 public restrooms. 824 are in parks, 216 in libraries, 14 in privately owned public spaces, seven in public plazas and five at transit locations.
Are NYC public bathrooms open all year?
Not always. Hours vary by site and some restrooms are seasonal. The dataset lists 975 as operational, 73 as not operational, 17 as closed for construction and one as closed.
Can I use a library bathroom in NYC?
Library branches have 216 of the public restrooms in the dataset, including Brooklyn Public Library and New York Public Library branches. They are available only while the branch is open.
Do NYC public restrooms have baby changing stations?
Most do. The dataset counts 795 restrooms with baby changing stations, about three out of four sites.
