Government is looking to upgrade the facilities at several of the Island’s National Parks, starting with John Smith’s Bay.The Ministry of Environment and Planning recently applied for planning permission to erect new rest room and lifeguard facilities at the south shore beach. A section of the application states that other “high priority” areas in the Islands parks would receive similar treatment to address ageing or absent facilities.The application states: “The need for this and upcoming applications arises due to damage to poorly situated existing facilities in high hurricane risk areas, increased user demands, changed cultural and security requirements, equipment abuse and improved material specification needs.”The John Smith’s Bay application proposes a new building on the northwestern side of the park containing public restrooms and lifeguard facilities.“Currently there is no permanent rest room, lifeguard facility or lifeguard service at John Smith’s Bay, a situation that presents an unacceptably high health and safety risk to the general public, especially during the peak season period between May and November,” the application stated.“The proposed development is needed to significantly reduce the public health and safety risk by firstly providing a purpose built public rest room with sufficient capacity to service seasonal peak picnic/beach users needs and additionally a purpose build lifeguard facility to provide operational resources required by the Bermuda Lifeguard Service.”The area selected for the building is described as the only suitable area in the park both outside high hurricane risk zoning and a cave protection area.The completed project will also feature an outdoor public art instillation in an effort to give the community a greater sense of ownership and reduce the risk of antisocial behaviour.The application also states the facility will be closed overnight, and could potentially be upgraded with CCTV cameras if necessary.A spokeswoman for the Parks Department said earlier this year that temporary facilities at the beach are intended to last until the end of the busy season, with new facilities being erected during the off season.