Sebastian holds public workshop on Riverview Park master plan; staff favors keeping veterans memorial in place

City officials and a design consultant presented two conceptual layouts for the Riverview Park master plan at an open public workshop in Council Chambers on Oct. 12, 2025, and said staff is currently supporting the option that keeps the Veterans Memorial in place.

The project team led by Kimley-Horn presented Concept A and Concept B and asked the public for feedback. Brian Benton, City Manager for the City of Sebastian, said staff’s present preference is Concept B, “which does not move the Veterans Memorial.” He added the concepts are conceptual and have not gone to the City Council for formal approval.

Why it matters: the plan bundles several near-term capital needs — a required splash pad replacement and an aging portable performance stage — into a larger master plan with the aim of leveraging outside grants. Project cost estimates discussed at the workshop were about $3 million; the city said it has $1,590,000 in awarded grants and roughly $1,500,000 in pending applications, and that it will not commit the full $3 million of city funds if grant awards do not materialize.

Consultant description and differences between concepts Kyler, a landscape architect with Kimley-Horn Associates, summarized the two concepts. Both concepts propose new pavilions, expanded event space, new or reconfigured parking and improved pedestrian connections; they differ on the Veterans Memorial, splash pad and event plaza arrangement. Concept A relocates the Veterans Memorial into a more central, shaded area near the park canopy and adds a cascading water feature to help…