Will this troubled Pasco market space get a makeover? What residents want to see
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Peanuts Park is meant to honor a beloved retired railroad worker, Noburu “Peanuts” Fukuda.
- Pasco city staff received input from the community at Cinco de Mayo and a public meeting.
- The city is moving forward with three design concepts.
Peanuts Park North doesn’t fit what you’d imagine a city park would look like.
There are no trees or thriving plants filling the concrete walkway between two downtown businesses. People can sit on the edges of a few empty planters.
An area meant to honor a beloved retired railroad worker, Noburu “Peanuts” Fukuda, has become a hot spot for alcohol and drug use and homelessness.
Now Pasco is trying to remake the area with the community’s help.
Peanuts Park North
The main part of Peanuts Park is the farmers market area along Fourth Avenue between Lewis Street and Columbia Street in the city’s downtown core. Pasco invested $6.5 million in improvements and finished construction in 2022.
The city’s goal for Peanuts Park North is to mirror that area, which has become a hub during large events like Cinco de Mayo, the Fiery Foods Festival and farmers markets.
So far, the project timeline and budget is unclear.
Until now, there haven’t been updates to the stretch of the park on the north side of Lewis Street.
The city is working with MT-LA Consultants to select a final design. The group presented three concepts at a recent city meeting.
Community members voted on their favorite ideas at a booth at Cinco de Mayo.
- Stage: One idea is to add a stage area for performances, open space for vendors and events, outdoor seating and a shade structure.
The design of the park would be similar to the farmers market area. It also would have room for art and murals. Two people voted for this idea at Cinco de Mayo.
- Space for Sports: Another concept includes installing a court and small grass field for sports, a plaza facing Lewis Street, planters with native plants and outdoor seating. Six community members voted for this design.
The court could rotate by season so community members could play different sports from basketball and pickleball to soccer and ice hockey, depending on the time of the year.
- Art Walk: There would be art pieces installed throughout the park, a children’s play area and games like ping pong and giant chess. The design would have less concrete and more grass, native plants and seating areas.
The community’s favorite idea by far was the art walk design, with 30 votes.
The project is still in the planning phase. The city will announce the preferred concept in July and preliminary design starts this fall.
Construction would happen as soon as the city has funds. Currently, there is no set budget.
