Dear Action Line: This is a two-parter: 1. Why are there no public restrooms at Santa Rita Park? Am I missing something? Am I blind? For such a large and often-used community venue, you’d think there would be proper facilities. 2. Where are all the trash cans? As I sit here and look around, I see one giant dumpster, but no small trash cans. Not even near the picnic tables. What gives? – Crossed Legs and Trashy Thoughts

Dear CL and TT: Well, good news: You probably don’t have to pee in the river. And you’re not exactly blind; it does take a bit of sleuthing to find the public restrooms. Furthermore, if you’re not a bear, there are usable trash receptacles.

Some background: Before the park remodel a few years back, there was a restroom building located approximately next to where the volleyball courts are now. Also, there were accessible restrooms where the Durango Chamber of Commerce used to sit, about where the changing shelter is now. Please, and this goes for everyone, don’t mistake the changing shelter for a restroom.

A bunch of construction and reconstruction occurred a few years ago as the new water reclamation facility was built, and things ain’t what they used to be.

To find public restrooms, look to the south side of the Santa Rita Water Reclamation Facility, acronymed as SRWRF, and pronounced to rhyme with “smurf.” Somehow.

Anyway, next to a pair of doors are signs that say “MEN” and “WOMEN,” and feel free to walk in the door that best suits you. You’ll also find a couple of drinking fountains and a place to fill your water bottle. Very handy.

“When the SRWRF was built, the existing park public restrooms were demoed and absorbed into the side of the admin building, facing the river trail,” said Laura Rieck, public outreach and education coordinator with Durango Public Works. “They are open (unlocked) from dawn until dusk unless they have experienced vandalism to the extent the restroom is not usable. Vandalism has been a serious issue so generally, if a city park restroom is closed (locked), it is after dusk or has experienced significant vandalism.”

OK, so you might have to pee in the river, but hopefully it’ll be dark.

And yes, there are places to put your used coffee cups and hot dog wrappers.

The city says there are four smaller bear-proof trash cans in the park area – one by the basketball court, one by the volleyball court, and two by the pavilion. There is also the large dumpster by the playground.

When informed by Action Line of the restroom location, Crossed Legs noted: “When my 4- and 5-year-olds are playing on the playground there, that would be quite a trek, but good to know they are there!”

Dear Action Line: I ate my lunch outside yesterday with a gentleman who spotted a “smiley face” painted on a big flat rock on the east side of Smelter Mountain. Wonder who did that? They had to walk clear up the hill with the paint and brush. I told my grandson about it, and he said it’s been there for several years and recently been repainted. – I. Spide

Dear I.: Action Line took a good long look on the hillside above Santa Rita Park, and, well, there it is. A smiley face. How about that?

Who would do that? It’s a steep hike, especially with a paint bucket. Or, as a friend of Action Line’s conjectured, did they carry a mere spray can?

If you’re looking up there, just know that the yellow smiley face paint blends in pretty well with the bleach-blond rock. Best not to focus on finding this when you’re driving by on Camino del Rio during rush hour.

Best to park at Santa Rita, and look about two-thirds of the way up Smelter Mountain. If you’re standing at the flagpole next to SRWRF, look just a little bit upriver and you should see it. The face matches so well with the rock that, as Action Line learned, it does not show up well in photos taken with a phone.

But the question remains: Who did it? For what it’s worth, this appears to be on Colorado Parks and Wildlife property. So maybe it was a wily coyote?

And why?

Was it just for fun? A dare? A message? A memorial to someone special? The answer is out there somewhere.

Email questions and suggestions to actionline@durangoherald.com or mail them to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301. If you want to fess up to being the smiley artist, feel free to let Action Line know. You can reach Action Line at … oh yeah, we just did that.