San Carlos council approves Harrington Park renovation, delays full block work

The San Carlos City Council on June 9 narrowly approved the final design for Harrington Park and directed staff to proceed with plans, specifications and a public bid package for Phase 1A.

The approved action, adopted as Resolution 2025-54, covers the conceptual and 50% design elements for the park restoration and related site work. The council also passed a companion resolution, 2025-55, directing staff to prepare and advertise the plans and specifications so the city can go to construction bidding for Phase 1A. The votes on both measures recorded Vice Mayor Venitates and Councilmember Rack in support; Councilmember Leighton opposed; Councilmember Dugan abstained; Mayor Sarah Mcdow voted yes.

The design presented by WRT and partner Wear Associates places a pavilion and a water feature within a flexible plaza intended for small-to-medium performances, everyday seating, and improved landscaping. Consultants emphasized that the water feature will be a non-interactive plinth flanked by seating elements and that the pavilion canopy is raised to preserve sightlines into the park.

During the multi-hour presentation and public Q&A, staff and consultants highlighted several technical points council asked them to refine: a 12.5-foot clearance requirement around the pavilion columns, a 20-foot emergency-vehicle clearance adjacent to the water feature, options for permeable pavers and cast-in-place concrete, and a palette that leans toward warmer tones and more durable materials for reduced maintenance. The consultants also explained how splitting the project into Phase 1A (Harrington Park) and Phase 1B (the 700 block of Laurel Street) affects procurement: material lots may be separate, risking slight color or texture variations if the two phases are constructed by different contractors at different times.

Public commenters gave mixed reactions. Several residents and business owners praised the concept and the extra seating and lighting, while others urged caution. Cynthia Wigan, a longtime resident, said the fountain design felt “striking and modern” but cautioned it might not match the city’s character and raised safety concerns for children around a water feature. Garrett Park of Faith & Spirits said his restaurant had not been consulted about murals planned on adjacent walls and asked for clearer coordination before art is installed.

Councilmembers debated whether to adopt a permanent raised pavilion and stage or prefer a removable platform for occasional performances. Several members argued the pavilion is a central activation tool for downtown and will facilitate frequent, smaller events; others urged more temporary staging or design changes to reduce potential impacts on adjacent outdoor dining and businesses during performances and construction.

City staff said Phase 1A construction would likely last about nine months once bids are awarded and recommended retaining certain infrastructure features—such as underground hookups and rough-in plumbing—to allow a future, community-funded fountain or art installation to be added later.

Next steps: Staff will finalize construction drawings for Harrington Park and issue the Plans/Specifications/Notice for Phase 1A. The council asked staff to return with a revised presentation of the 700 block that incorporates the feedback from the June 9 meeting; consultants said they expect to present updated 700-block materials in late summer or early fall before a final vote on Phase 1B.

The council’s action means the city is formally moving Harrington Park from 50% design into the construction procurement pipeline while keeping key design questions (artwork selection, final fountain treatment and some materials choices) open for community engagement and future funding.