The public is wild about the restrooms at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge in Sanibel, Fla. Cintas Corp. recently named J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge the winner of this year’s “America’s Best Restroom” contest. 
“We’re thrilled that the public is as wild about our restrooms as we are,” said Toni Westland, Supervisor Refuge Ranger, J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. “As one of 566 national wildlife refuges around the country, we saw the restrooms as a major missed opportunity for educating visitors, which is why our new Learning Lavatories encourage visitors to become entirely immersed in refuge habitat and wildlife.”
Cintas revealed the 10 contest finalists on Aug. 6 and opened voting to the public through Sept. 18. As the winner, J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge will receive the revered restroom treatment from Cintas. This includes $2,500 in Cintas products and services for restroom cleaning or facility management to keep their restrooms “Ready for the Workday,” along with a lifetime of bathroom bragging rights.
Inside the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge restrooms, tarpon, otter, osprey, and sea turtle sculptures provide an underwater wildlife illusion. Photographic tile murals depict a lush, watery mangrove scene on one wall. Close-up professional bird photos wrap stall doors, with identification information on the inside. These Learning Lavatories dazzle, but also educate along the walk with interpretive messaging about the wildlife and saving the environment.
“We’ve been hosting this contest for 17 years and we’re still blown away by facilities like J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, which find new and innovative ways to make the restroom experience memorable,” said Sean Mulcahey, marketing manager, Cintas. “This contest serves as a great reminder that investing in your restroom facilities is more important than ever because it can impact the success of your business.”
The other finalists in the 2018 America’s Best Restroom contest included:  
• Barrio – Chicago;
• Bryant Park – New York City; 
• Dream Hollywood Hotel – Hollywood, Calif.;
• Green Bay Botanical Garden – Green Bay, Wis.;
• Hotel La Jolla, Curio Collection by Hilton – La Jolla, Calif.; 
• MI VIDA – Washington, D.C.;
• Morgan Manufacturing – Chicago.;
• The Mud House – St. Louis, Mo;
• The Progress – San Francisco. 
The ten finalists were selected based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements.
For more information about the contest, contact Christina Alvarez at [email protected] or 708-908-0898.