New York, NY — The public can be going in style in the Big Apple.
In a park amid New York City skyscrapers, a gem has emerged: a posh public bathroom that cost nearly $300,000.
It has freshly delivered flowers, imported tiles, classical music and artwork.
It's open to everyone, even homeless New Yorkers.
The free-of-charge facility was inspired by visits to the city's priciest hotels.
On Thursday, officials cut bathroom tissue as the inaugural ribbon for the toilets housed in a landmarked Beaux-Arts building behind the New York Public Library.
The toilets - divided between the women's and men's sides - are reopening after a two-month renovation.
The eye-popping elegance is a surprise in a city where public toilets are scarce and generally grungy.
The public luxury was funded privately by the Bryant Park Corp., a not-for-profit that manages the city-owned park.