Peanut butter found smeared at Fargo park

FARGO, N.D. (Valley News Live) - Parents are sounding the alarm after peanut butter was found smeared on playground equipment at a Fargo park — the second such incident reported in the metro this summer. Photos obtained by Valley News Live were posted to Facebook showing thick globs of peanut butter smeared along a slide, wiped down a ramp, and coated on metal bars at Southwest Park, near Fargo South High School and the Tharaldson Little League Complex. The post quickly drew hundreds of comments from parents worried about the risk to children with peanut allergies. “If someone dies, could we get these people charged with manslaughter? This is terrifying!” one commenter wrote. Another parent said their family had already been through a similar scare. “This happened at my kids’ elementary school earlier this summer. It is so sad to see as my son has a nut allergy,” the commenter wrote. “Never in my life would I think I’d have to inspect playground equipment before letting him play.” A similar incident was reported in June at the Brooks Harbor Elementary School playground in West Fargo. In that case, the West Fargo Police Department said a juvenile intentionally smeared peanut butter on the equipment and surrounding area, and families were notified of potential exposure. In the Fargo case, the Fargo Park District says it learned about the peanut butter after a call from dispatch and work orders submitted by residents through the district’s iWork online system. “Our maintenance team responded to Tharaldson Little League Complex, wiped down the affected playground equipment and pressure washed the area with hot water,” the district said in a written statement. “Staff inspected the playground following the cleaning, and the area has now been cleared for use.” At this time, the district says it does not know who placed the peanut butter on the playground equipment. “We understand how concerning an incident like this can be, particularly for children and families managing peanut allergies,” the statement said. “The Fargo Park District has full-time staff dedicated to maintaining approximately 80 playgrounds throughout the community, and reports from residents help us respond to issues as quickly as possible.” The district thanked members of the public who reported the issue to both law enforcement and the park district and encouraged residents to continue using official reporting channels. Community members can submit park maintenance requests online through the Fargo Park District’s iWork portal or by calling the North Maintenance Shop between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Copyright 2026 KVLY. All rights reserved.