Pasco staff proposes hybrid design for Peanuts Park North aimed at family activation and safety

City recreation staff and landscape architect Mike Terrell (MPLA) presented three conceptual designs for Peanuts Park North and recommended a hybrid that combines elements of an art walk and a flexible athletic court.

Terrell described Concept A as carrying the paving character from Peanuts Park South across Lewis Street; Concept B emphasized a flexible recreation area for futsal, basketball or pickleball and small public gatherings; Concept C prioritized an art walk and murals. Public outreach at Cinco de Mayo and a subsequent televised meeting yielded the most votes for the art-and-activation approach, but feedback also favored recreation amenities. Staff proposed a hybrid: a fenced athletic court in the back with a gated access point that can be closed after-hours, a front plaza with removable shade structures (fabric canopies that can be installed for events), mural and public-art locations, and lighting and electrical service to support programming.

Council members asked about safety and maintenance. Several said their top priority was creating a family- and youth-friendly space while discouraging vagrancy and drug use. Questions focused on whether to include permanent restrooms (staff said bathrooms would add substantial maintenance costs and could be explored in later design phases or via temporary porta-potty solutions), the height and appearance of gates and fencing, lighting approaches (permanent and string lighting), and whether to add a physical pedestrian connection across Lewis Street. Staff and the consultant recommended additional targeted outreach to adjacent property owners and the Parks & Recreation board before finalizing design and said the preferred plan would be returned for final approval to support grant and state appropriation requests.