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Council advances Avenida De Benito Juarez pocket‑park design, agrees to misting feature and restroom with conditions
Summary
The council directed staff to pursue design and procurement for the Avenida De Benito Juarez pocket park, including a prefabricated restroom (approx. $256,000) and a water‑misting feature (approx. $215,000) with an estimated $12,000 annual maintenance cost; staff will investigate irrigation reuse, lighting, tree preservation/honoring and include a working name 'Benito Juarez Pocket Park.'
The Vista City Council discussed detailed design options for the proposed Avenida De Benito Juarez pocket park and gave staff direction to move forward with key elements to meet grant deadlines.
Recreation & Community Services Director Margaret Hamer said the 0.22‑acre site is eligible for a grant that requires construction to be completed by Dec. 31, 2027, with final paperwork due January 2028 and contract liquidation June 30, 2028. Staff recommended two added amenities requested previously: a prefabricated single‑stall restroom (estimated about $256,000) and a water‑misting feature (estimated about $215,000). Hamer explained the misting feature would be a flow‑through domestic water‑to‑waste system (approximately 15 gallons per minute) and that a full splash pad with recirculation and filtration would be infeasible due to site space and CDC testing/operation requirements.
Councilmembers raised safety and access concerns (fencing and single entry to separate pedestrian cut‑throughs from play areas), the need for improved lighting within a quarter‑mile, and whether to use natural grass or synthetic turf. Several councilmembers favored grass for heat mitigation despite higher cost. They asked staff to evaluate a low‑tech cistern/gray‑water option to capture runoff for irrigation and to include a maintenance budget given an annual estimate of $12,000 for operations and maintenance of the misting feature.
Council agreed on a working park name, Benito Juarez Pocket Park, and asked staff to research whether the existing tree has a local historical connection; if removed during construction staff should consider a commemorative plaque or a tree sculpture. Staff will return with a construction contract and a budget that includes maintenance costs and will evaluate the cistern/irrigation options as part of the design procurement.
