Pasco, WA
Visitors to Peanuts Park in downtown Pasco will be greeted by a smiling bronze statue immortalizing a beloved Tri-Cities figure.
The statue of railroad worker Noburo “Peanuts” Fukuda was unveiled Saturday to gasps and applause from community members who came out to celebrate his legacy.
Fukuda emigrated from Japan to the U.S. in 1919 and spent about 48 years working for the Burlington Northern Railroad. He was a regular in downtown Pasco, and handed out sweets to children — impacting generations of Tri-City residents who recalled their interactions with him.
The 5-foot sculpture depicts Fukuda riding the three-wheeled bike that the Pasco Kiwanis Club gave him in 1974, which he used to pick up litter around the park.
Those who visit Peanuts Park in downtown Pasco will forever be greeted by a new bronze statue of Noburo “Peanuts” Fukuda, the beloved railroad worker who spread joy by handing out candy and treats to children. Eric Rosane erosane@tricityherald.com
One of his hands holds a candy bar, a tribute to the treats he regularly gave out and the reason many people also called him the “candy man.”
The statue was commissioned by the Pasco Arts and Culture Commission. It paid artist Seth Vandable of Texas $50,000 for the project.
Fukuda, who spent his final months in Lyle, Wash., died at age 95 in May 1993.
Peanuts Park is at 426 W. Lewis St. in Pasco. The statue is at the north entrance of the park, between Viera’s Bakery and El Torito Mx Market.
Tri-City Herald reporter Nicol León Arge contributed to this report.
Related Stories from Tri-City Herald
Tri-City Herald
Eric Rosane is the Tri-City Herald’s Civic Accountability Reporter focused on Education and Local Government. Before coming to the Herald in February 2022, he worked at the Daily Chronicle in Lewis County covering schools, floods, fish, dams and the Legislature. He graduated from Central Washington University in 2018.
Support my work with a digital subscription
Tri-City Herald
Nicol León is the Latino communities reporter for the Tri-City Herald, covering immigration and the city of Pasco. A bilingual journalist and graduate of the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY in New York City, she is committed to helping residents understand how local decisions affect their daily lives. Have a tip or story idea? Get in touch: nicol.leonarge@tricityherald.comNicol León cubre comunidades latinas para el Tri-City Herald, donde cubre inmigración y el Concejo Municipal de Pasco. Periodista bilingüe y graduada de la Escuela de Periodismo Craig Newmark de la Universidad de la Ciudad de Nueva York (CUNY), está comprometida con ayudar a los residentes a comprender cómo las decisiones locales impactan en su vida diaria. Tienes una idea para una historia? Escríbeme a nicol.leonarge@tricityherald.com