Strolling the Chicago Riverwalk is great — until you have to use the restroom. While food, drinks and frozen treats are widely available, public restrooms are not.

This season, the Riverwalk includes eight food vendors and seven activity vendors spanning a one-mile section of the Chicago River's south bank from LaSalle Street east to Lake Shore Drive. The only public, permanent restrooms available with flushing toilets and sinks with running water along this span are located underneath the Dearborn Street bridge on both the west and east sides.

In 2017, additional public restroom facilities will be available in two of three new sections on the Riverwalk's west end. Construction on this quarter-mile addition from Lake Street to LaSalle Street is scheduled for completion later this year.

Could more permanent options be added? According to city spokeswoman Shannon Breymaier, trenching would be required into Lower imgWacker Drive on the Riverwalk's east end — from State Street to Lake Shore Drive — to connect existing utility lines.

"We're always looking for ways to improve this popular attraction, and may consider the addition of temporary or permanent restrooms along the Riverwalk in the future," Breymaier said in a statement.

Just how busy is the Riverwalk during the summer? Though no official numbers of Riverwalk visitors in 2015 have been released, the city says vendors' gross revenue was $4.5 million in 2015 — nearly four times the 2014 total.

Business owners on the Riverwalk's east end, in the meantime, have come up with creative solutions to offer their customers restroom facilities.

Island Party Hut's first year on the Riverwalk was 2015. The tiki bar, which is made out of a modified shipping container, specializes in rum drinks and offers diners a limited menu. It's also the launch site for Island Party Boat's rental fleet. General manager Mark Xavier says this season his business has installed an air-conditioned restroom trailer and one disabled-accessible portable toilet for its employees and customers.

"Last year we had the regular blue (portable toilets). We were just looking to give our customers a better option," Xavier said. "It's just kind of one of those things that makes us stand out a little more."

And do non-customers ever ask Xavier and his staff to use Island Party Hut's facilities? "All the time, yes," Xavier said.

Other Riverwalk vendors have posted signs limiting their pop-up restrooms for customers only, or have hidden them completely out of view. Yet, employees at each said they have allowed non-customers to use them, if politely asked.

Employees and customers of Chicago's First Lady Cruises don't require portable toilets, according to Holly Agra, the tour boat operator's CEO and president.

"We have restrooms on board each of our vessels for our patrons to enjoy," she said.

Food/activity vendor Portable toilets (customers only) Public restrooms (1 men’s, 1 women’s on each side of Dearborn) Under construction Chicago River Riverwalk RANDOLPH Miles ¼ Food/activity vendor Portable toilets (for customers only) Public restroom (1 men’s and 1 women’s on each side of Dearborn) Riverwalk Miles ¼

Restrooms, by vendor Starting on the western edge of the Riverwalk and heading east to Lake Shore Drive, here is the restroom status of each restaurant and activity vendor. Name Location Restrooms Lillies The Cove (Clark Street to Dearborn Street) No restrooms Urban Kayaks The Cove (Clark Street to Dearborn Street) No restrooms Tiny Hatt The Cove (Clark Street to Dearborn Street) No restrooms Public restrooms The Cove (Clark Street to Dearborn Street) Public, permanent restrooms Frost Gelato The Marina (Dearborn Street to State Street) No restrooms City Winery The Marina (Dearborn Street to State Street) No restrooms Vacant space State Street to Wabash Avenue No restrooms O'Brien's Riverwalk Cafe At Wabash Avenue For customers and employees only McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum At Michigan Avenue For customers and employees only Chicago's First Lady Cruises and Mercury, Chicago's Skyline Cruiseline Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive Aboard boats; for customers and employees only Cyrano's Cafe & Wine Bar Michigan Avenue to Columbus Drive For customers and employees only Wheel Fun Rentals Columbus Drive to Lake Shore Drive No restrooms Island Party Hut and Island Party Boat Columbus Drive to Lake Shore Drive For customers and employees only Urban Kayaks Columbus Drive to Lake Shore Drive For customers and employees only