The City of Long Beach has partnered with Throne Labs to launch a new four-month pilot program to offer smart public restrooms. In addition to 52 freestanding public restrooms across the city, Throne smart restrooms are now available for public use at DeForest Park, Harvey Milk Promenade Park, Belmont Pier and Shoreline Marina. These locations were chosen based on a review of restroom demand and funding availability of existing restrooms at the locations.
“Public restrooms are necessary infrastructure that serve everyone in our community,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “This pilot program with Throne represents our commitment to exploring innovative options to increase access to clean, accessible and safe public facilities. By piloting a solution that has proven successful in communities throughout LA County, we aim to increase the number of welcoming public spaces in Long Beach parks.”
Throne restrooms are Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible facilities that feature running water sinks, flushing toilets, baby changing stations and free menstrual products. Each unit is equipped with 21 sensors that provide real-time data on the restroom’s status, cleanliness and usage statistics, including potential misuse. During the pilot phase, users can access the units via text message or mobile app, creating accountability while maintaining user privacy. All Long Beach community members, including those without mobile phones, will continue to have access to the city’s other 52 freestanding, accessible public restrooms. The units are cleaned four times a day and are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
The four-month program, which will run until mid-August 2025, is facilitated through the city’s Parks, Recreation and Marine (PRM) Department and Technology and Innovation Department (TID).
Data from the pilot will be evaluated by measuring key performance metrics, including usage patterns, user satisfaction ratings, cleanliness levels, uptime percentage, maintenance responsiveness and comparative cost analysis. Throne’s built-in sensors will provide real-time data on these metrics, while the city will track changes in cleanliness in the immediate area and vandalism incidents compared to traditional facilities. Additionally, a public survey posted at all Throne locations will gather direct feedback from residents and visitors about their experiences and perceptions of safety, ensuring community voices help shape future restroom infrastructure decisions.
There are currently 22 Thrones across Los Angeles County that maintain cleanliness ratings that exceed 4 out of 5 stars, from suburban parks to busy transit stations. These cleanliness ratings are provided by users real-time after each visit, helping the operations team maintain consistently excellent experiences. A Throne has served Long Beach’s Willow Street Station since May 2024 as part of Throne’s partnership with Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and has proven successful with nearly 13,000 visits by 2,900 users and no security issues.
“Access to clean bathrooms is essential for vibrant communities, and our mission is to create facilities that everyone wants to use,” said Jessica Heinzelman, COO and co-founder of Throne Labs. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the City of Long Beach to demonstrate how access to delightful smart public restrooms can transform public spaces to be more welcoming to residents and visitors.”
Funding for the pilot is from the TID Innovation Fund and the PRM Department operating and maintenance funds. Following the pilot, the city will assess the program and determine if a more permanent program should be considered and explore funding sources to pay for the technology, including seeking external partners. With the establishment of a more permanent program, the city would also assess how best to provide access to users without access to mobile phones.
To learn more about Throne Labs, visit thronelabs.co.
