Chicago is getting a new toilet — but it's not just any toilet. Here's why

Wicker Park Chicago is getting a new toilet — but it's not just any toilet. Here's why The city celebrated the installation of its first automated public toilet, located at the Polish Triangle in Wicker Park. By Alex Dvorak • Published November 11, 2026 • Updated on November 11, 2026 at 4:38 pm Chicago is getting a new toilet -- and it's not just any toilet. The city on Wednesday celebrated the installation of its first automated public toilet, located at the Polish Triangle in the Wicker Park neighborhood. Stream NBC 5 for free, 24/7, wherever you are. WATCH HERE New facility uses "innovative, self-cleaning public restroom technology" designed to "expand access to convenient, accessible and sanitary restroom facilities in Chicago’s public spaces." A ceremonial "first flush" was set to take place Wednesday at the intersection of Milwaukee Avenue, Ashland Avenue and Division Street. The location was selected, according to city officials, because of its foot traffic, proximity to public transportation and the surrounding businesses and community destinations. “Every global city deserves clean, safe public bathrooms. I’m proud to have brought Chicago’s first public bathroom to the 1st Ward and I can’t wait to see how this pilot develops,” Ald. Daniel La Spata said in a statement. According to officials, the toilet will feature a self-cleaning system that will automatically wash and disinfect after each use, along with extra measures for safety and accessibility, including an emergency call button. Local Aurora 9 hours ago Building collapse in west suburb sends debris into street, drivers urged to avoid area Mental Health 11 hours ago Meet the unexpected team filling Chicago's mental health workforce shortage Alan Sullivan, co-CEO of JCDecaux North America, the company behind the toilet, said while the moment is a first for Chicago, similar toilets have been implemented in other cities around the the world, including Berlin, Paris and San Francisco. “Our automated public toilets are designed to combine innovative technology, accessibility and automated sanitation to provide a reliable public amenity while supporting the cleanliness and functionality of urban public spaces," he said in a release. "We are excited to bring this technology to Chicago and demonstrate how thoughtful investments in street furniture can contribute to a better experience for the people who live, work and visit the city.” The city said it hopes to use pilot to test the performance of automated public restroom technology to determine future decisions for the city. They plan to measure things like daily and hourly usage, operational uptime, maintenance, operating costs and more. This article tagged under: Wicker Park