ACTION:
____________________________
Clerk/Secretary
Department: Recreation & Community Services Item No: D3 Prepared by: Margaret Hamer, Director Meeting Date: March 24, 2026 Approved by: John Conley, City Manager Agenda Location: Discussion S
UBJECT: AVENIDA DE BENITO JUAREZ POCKET PARK (CIP 8336) RE
COMMENDATION: Review the Avenida De Benito Juarez Pocket Park project and provide direction on the preliminary concept plan, grant status, color theme, park name, tree replacement, and estimated costs for proposed additional amenities.
CO
RRELATION TO CITY COUNCIL GOALS: Parks and Recreation, Fiscal Responsibility, Climate and Environmental Responsibility.
PRIOR ACTION: On August 13, 2024, approved Design Concept 2. Council also recommended a restroom be added to the plans (Vote: 4-0, Green absent).
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comprehensive list of prior actions is included in Exhibit 7.
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RIOR PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION ACTION: On February 23, 2026, the Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed the approved design and discussed the addition of the restroom, water feature, theme colors, park name, and, and tree recommendation. On July 22, 2024, recommended Design Concept 2 (Vote: 6-1, Sterling-Randall abstained).
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TATEMENT ON THE SUBJECT: Avenida De Benito Juarez Park is a proposed neighborhood park of approximately 0.22 acres located at the corner of Avenida De Benito Juarez and Avenida De La Plaza. The park was initially proposed to include a children’s playground and open gathering space for the community.
To meet grant deadlines, staff must select a design firm for final design of the park facility. The design contract is anticipated to be presented to City Council for consideration in April of this year.
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taff request City Council direction on several design elements needed to finalize the park plans and incorporate all amenities and associated costs. Specifically, direction is requested regarding the inclusion of a restroom, a water feature, the park’s color theme, the park naming process, and tree replacement.
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ased on City Council direction provided on August 13, 2024, two additional amenities were identified for consideration that would require funding beyond the grant award.
The
first is a prefabricated single-stall restroom similar to the facility installed at Pala Vista Park. The estimated cost for the restroom, including site work and installation, is approximately $256,000.
AGENDA
REPORT
CITY COUNCIL
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION
SUCCESSOR AGENCY
BUENA SANITATION DISTRICT
JOINT POWERS FINANCING AUTHORITY
03/24/2026
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MEETING DATE: March 24, 2026 PAGE 2
SUBJECT: AVENIDA DE BENITO JUAREZ POCKET PARK (CIP 8336) The second amenity is a water play feature. Due to the size constraints of the site, a traditional splash pad is not feasible. Instead, a misting feature is proposed at an estimated capital cost of approximately $215,000, which includes $65,000 for equipment and $150,000 for installation. Estimated annual operating costs are approximately $12,000, consisting of about $5,000 for seasonal maintenance (four months) and approximately $7,000 for water usage.
The pr
oposed misting system would operate using a domestic water “flow -through to waste” design at approximately 15 gallons per minute. Estimated seasonal water usage over a four-month period ranges from approximately 129,600 gallons under light use to approximately 604,800 gallons under heavier use.
The
recommended equipment for this feature is the Aquatix AguaHedra Mister (Exhibit 2). The unit features a truncated octahedron design with fourteen faces and thirty -six edges. Misting sprays are incorporated around the structure, allowing water to spray both inside and outside of the feature. The system would operate through push-button activation devices so that water is only released when children activate the feature during designated operating times.
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recirculating splash pad system was evaluated but is not recommended for the project. The 0.22-acre site contains several constraints that significantly limit the available buildable area, including a sewer easement, required setbacks, sidewalk circulation, ADA accessibility requirements, stormwater treatment areas, playground safety zones, swing clearances, and other grant-required park elements. In addition, recirculating splash pad systems require underground water tanks and mechanical buildings that would displace core park amenities. Environmental Health review requirements for such systems would also likely delay the project beyond the grant deadlines. Recirculating systems also carry higher long- term operational costs related to water treatment, monitoring, and maintenance that are disproportionate for a park of this size. Finally, under SB 5 (2018 Parks, Environment, and Water Bond Act), water conservation is a key objective. A splash pad would increase potable water consumption and would be inconsistent with the grant’s conservation priorities.
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n February 23, 2026, the Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed the approved park design and discussed the proposed addition of a restroom, water feature, park theme colors, the park naming process, and the recommendation regarding the existing tree.
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ommission feedback included the following:
• Restroom: Recommended inclusion of the restroom.
• Water Feature: Parks and Recreation Youth Commissioners expressed concerns regarding potential misuse and water efficiency. One Commissioner stated that if the feature is not a full splash pad, it should not be included. Others suggested expanding play equipment rather than installing a water feature.
• Park Theme Colors: Agreed with community input supporting blue and green. • Park Name: Consensus that the park name should be developed by children from the surroundi ng nei
ghborhood, in collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club and Vista Academy of Visual and Performing Arts.
• Tree Recommendation: Supported removal of the existing tree and replacement with a Californi a nat
ive species, based on the certified arborist guidance provided in Exhibit 4 and consistent with grant deliverables included in Exhibit 6.
• Public Comment: Requested additional shade trees and game tables to encourage intergenerational use of the park.
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MEETING DATE: March 24, 2026 PAGE 3
SUBJECT: AVENIDA DE BENITO JUAREZ POCKET PARK (CIP 8336)
Staff request Council direction on the inclusion of the restroom, the misting water feature, the park color theme, the park naming process, and the removal and replacement of the existing tree so that final design work can proceed.
The project must comply with the following grant deadlines:
• Construction completion: December 31, 2027
• Final paperwork submission: End of January 2028
• Grant contract liquidation: June 30, 2028
FISCAL IMPACT: Capital Improvement Project (CIP) No. 8336 was awarded $1,121,216 through the Proposition 68 Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program grant. Following acquisition of the four small parcels, $624,761 in grant funds remain available. The project currently has total available funding of $993,306, consisting of the remaining Proposition 68 grant balance and $368,545 in Park Development Fees. These funds are reserved to meet the required project deliverables under the grant agreement.
If the additional amenities are included in the final design, estimated costs would include approximately $256,000 for installation of a prefabricated single- stall restroom and approximately $215,000 for installation of a misting water feature. The misting water feature would also require estimated annual operations and maintenance costs of approximately $12,000 for seasonal operation. These two additional amenities are not required to meet the grant deliverables and would need to be funded separately. Sufficient funding is available within the Park Development Fees account to fund both amenities, if directed by the City Council.
EXHIBITS:
1. Preliminary Concept Plan with Restroom and Water Feature
2. AquaHedra Product Overview
3. Current Condition
4. Certified Arborist Tree Recommendation
5. Community Input on Color Theme
6. Grant Status Report and Deliverables
7. Prior List of City Council Actions
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OGALS Required Project Amenities:
• Multi-age playgrounds
• Swing like/ group use equipment
• Safety surfacing for play areas
• Shade structures
• Lighting for safety
• Picnic areas
• Public art
• Boundary fencing
• Pet waste stations
Additional Requested Amenities:
• Restroom
• Water Misting Area
Avenida De Benito Juarez
Pocket Park
Preliminary Concept Plan
03/24/2026
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EXHIBIT 1
Product Specs
Material Options
Stainless Steel
Dimensions
6'7" x 8'0" x 8'0"
(2,01 m x 2,44 m x 2,44 m)
Splash Zone
15'0" Dia.
(4,57 m Dia.)
Standard Flow Rate
15 GPM
56,78 LPM
PSI
40 Product Overview
Enjoy the pleasure of a cooling mist water feature
without having to get fully soaked. Endless
formations of fun are rooted in this striking, three-
dimensional geometric aqua play design.
AquaHedra offers a variety of show-stopping
water features for both large and small sites. The
AquaHedra promotes misting and manipulative
tactile experiences.
Product Features:
Truncated octahedron design, which means it
has 14 faces, 36 edges and 24 vertices
Single continuous shape provides fun play for
kids of all ages and abilities
Misting sprays are incorporated around the
structure, spraying water inside and outside
Stainless steel structure with stainless steel
nozzles comes in any Aquatix paint color
Product not for use in pools.
Aqua Arches
AquaHedra®
Aquatix® by Landscape Structures | 763.972.5200 | 888.438.6574 | aquatix.playlsi.com | © 2026 03/24/2026
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EXHIBIT 2
Avenida De Benito Juarez Pocket Park Current Condition
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EXHIBIT 3
City of Vista Public Works – Yale Jeffery
1165 E Taylor Street
Vista, CA 92084
01/28/2026
Jeanette Bradshaw
Capitals Project Manager
City of Vista
200 Civic Center Drive
Vista, CA 92084
Dear Jeanette Bradshaw,
I took a look at the Mulberry Tree (Morus alba) located at the future park site on Avenida De Benito Juarez and Avenida De La Plaza. The current condition of the tree is showing a lot of dieback in the canopy of the tree and would require major pruning to get rid of the dead branches, which could be detrimental to an already stressed tree. Looking at the plans for the park and seeing that a wall is being constructed on the Northern side of the property to separate the park from the private residence, a good amount of the root system will have to be removed in order to place the footings required for the wall. The root system can span 1 – 1 ½ times the canopy width, so the tree could become unstable on the North Side. It would be my recommendation to have this tree removed during the construction project and have a new tree planted within the park as a replacement.
Sincerely,
Yale Jeffery
Public Works Supervisor
ISA Certified Arborist WE-15467A
03/24/2026
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EXHIBIT 4
Public Online Survey Results
For
Avenida De Benito Juarez Pocket Park and Luz Duran Park Improvements
Avenida De Benito Juarez:
A twelve-question survey was sent out for the City of Vista regarding the proposed Avenida De Benito Juarez Pocket Park. The majority of the people who responded to the survey lived within 1-2 miles of the proposed park. The respondent who lived the furthest away lives in Escondido, while the closest respondent lived next door to the proposed park. The majority of survey respondents, 43%, planned to visit the proposed park an average of 2-4 times a month. Roughly 15% of the respondents said they would plan to visit it 8 or more times a month and 27% said they plan to visit it 0-1 times a month. Regarding safety for the proposed park, the most common answer to what would make the respondents feel the safest was quality lighting for the park. Other responses that were a common theme included the proximity of the proposed park to the sheriff’s office, fencing between the park and road, and a clean park would make people feel safe about the proposed park.
When asked which age group should be prioritized when designing this park, the top answer was ages 5-12 with 75 people voting for this option. Teens had 54 votes, ages 2-5 had 50 votes, and older adults had 46 votes. The top three design features of the proposed park that were most important to people according to the survey were shade structure, playgrounds and gathering spaces respectively.
Regarding playground equipment, swings and slides were the most desirable according to the survey.
Climbing areas and playhouses were the next most popular playground equipment responses amongst the survey respondents.
Trees were the most popular answer when the survey takers were asked which landscape features they would enjoy the most in the proposed park. The next top two answers were grass and water features respectively. When asked about what kind of art they would like to see in the park, the top answer was wall murals, followed by decorative signage, and the least voted for was sculptures.
When asked if the respondents of the survey preferred a modern/contemporary design or a classic/traditional design for the proposed park, the majority answered that they would like to see a design “somewhere in between”.
When asked if there was a color or color-combination that was most desirable for the proposed park, the top answers were bright colors, blue and green. Other common answers were Chicano style coloring. When asked if there were any colors that should be avoided, the top answers were black and red. Regarding any other specific requests from the survey takers, many people requested a water feature of some sort such as a splash pad or pool. Other responses that were a common theme were the request for a focus on safety, and having the sheriff’s station staffed at all times. Many people are worried the proposed park may attract crime, fights, drugs and people without shelter.
November 7, 2023
03/24/2026
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EXHIBIT 4
03/24/2026
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EXHIBIT 6
City Council Actions
On August 13, 2024, Council approved Design Concept 2. Council also recommended a restroom be added to the plans (Vote: 4-0, Green absent).
On June 28, 2022, adopted City Council Resolution No. 2022-108, approving the Six-Year Capital Improvement Program and Fiscal Years 2022/23 and 2023/24 Capital Project Budget and authorizing appropriations for Fiscal Years 2022/23 and 2023/24 Capital Projects (Vote: 4-0, Ritter absent (Ritter experienced technical difficulties).
On April 26, 2022, adopted City Council Resolution No. 2022-61, accepting grant funds of $1,121,216 for the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program Grant and amending the Fiscal Years 2021/22 and 2022/23 Operating Budget. (Vote: 5-0).
On June 8, 2021, adopted City Council Resolution No. 2021-89, approving the Fiscal Years 2021/22 and 2022/23 Operating Budget (Vote: 5-0).
On March 9, 2021, adopted the following: 1) City Council Resolution No. 2021-29, approving the 2021 Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program Grant Application for a new pocket park on Avenida De Benito Juarez and authorizing the City Manager to sign related documents, and 2) City Council Resolution No. 2021-30, authorizing the City to enter a Purchase and Sale Agreement for four parcels on Avenida De Benito Juarez (APN 163-151-11- 00, 163-151-12-00, 163-151-13-00, 163-151-14- 00) (Vote: 5-0). 03/24/2026
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EXHIBIT 7