Parks and Recreation Commission - December 18, 2024

Commission requests project-level capital plan review

The Parks and Recreation Commission requested a later, project-level review of Palo Alto’s five-year parks and recreation capital plan after staff submits its fiscal year 2026–2030 requests in mid-January. The commission took no formal action on the draft but asked for existing project pages, current status information and a year-by-year view of the five-year schedule.

Commissioners differed over whether the available materials provided enough detail and five-year context to evaluate priorities. Staff reported 25 active fiscal year 2025 projects, 22 preliminary projects for fiscal year 2026 and 37 projects identified for later years. Although the capital plan spans five years, only its first year would be funded through adoption.

Restroom planning drew particular attention. The next already-funded restroom is planned near the Magical Bridge area at Mitchell Park, with design and outreach scheduled for spring and summer 2025 and construction anticipated in spring and summer 2026. At Eleanor Pardee Park, staff planned a community survey for January before deciding whether to advance a restroom proposal. Potential fiscal year 2026 design funding and construction in 2027 depend on the outreach results. Three public commenters supported the project and called for a transparent schedule and explicit capital-budget consideration.

Staff also clarified that preliminary fiscal year 2026 work at Foothills Nature Preserve includes Buckeye Creek grade-control structures, parking and trail improvements, and pedestrian walkways, but not broader creek restoration. A potential El Camino Park field replacement remains contingent on a field-surface study and subsequent City Council direction before budget approval. The capital plan is scheduled to reach the city manager’s proposed budget in April, Finance Committee hearings in May and City Council adoption in June.

Baylands reopened after storm-driven flooding

Staff reported that the Palo Alto Baylands reopened the day after December 14 flooding caused by an approximately 9.4-foot king tide combined with a storm front. Floodwater covered the roadway between the Duck Pond entrance and Sailing Station in about 30 minutes, but visitors were safely evacuated.

The flooding caused localized damage around the levee, bridge area and waterfront portion of the Adobe Creek Loop Trail. Staff said necessary levee repairs were completed by sundown, allowing the park to reopen the following day.

Elsewhere, staff anticipated seeking City Council approval for the Mayfield turf replacement in February and beginning work in March rather than delaying, citing the field’s end of useful life. Approval of a consultant for a comprehensive study of synthetic and natural soccer fields was expected to go to the council on January 13. Staff also estimated that the Mitchell Park dog park renovation, which includes 13 native trees, would be completed in January 2025.

Commission creates middle school athletics panel

The commission voted 7-0 to appoint three commissioners to a Middle School Athletics Ad Hoc Committee. The panel will evaluate the program’s universal accessibility, compliance with state law and potential outsourcing to nonprofit organizations.

The committee is also expected to develop the work-plan item’s anticipated benefits, timeline, resource needs and priority considerations. A public commenter supported examining nonprofit management and pointed to a nonprofit-operated cross-country team as a potential model. Staff said it would report back at the next meeting on any revised work-plan schedule.

Staff plans more swim programs and explores evening lap lanes

Staff said it would seek more summer evening lap-swim space at Rinconada Pool in response to commissioners’ concerns about limited after-work access. The aquatics report was a discussion-only item, and the commission took no formal action. Staff plans to work with PASA and the Friends of Rinconada lap-swim group on possible lane availability.

The city recorded more than 35,000 lap-swim visits in 2024, with Palo Alto residents accounting for 78% of visits. Staff also reported more than 27,000 open-swim visits and nearly 8,000 participants in camps and community swim lessons. Open-swim attendance has tripled since the pandemic, while lap-swim visits have declined from pandemic-era levels.

Additional adult lessons are planned beginning in the spring, along with expanded lifeguard-certification classes and a weekly junior lifeguard summer camp. Staff also will evaluate reported wobbliness in starting blocks. Commissioners raised recurring locker-room cleanliness concerns during high-use periods, while staff said additional daytime cleaning would continue in the summer. Family restrooms remain in design, with completion envisioned in fiscal year 2026.

Cubberley planning resumes with January outreach

The commission heard that renewed planning for the Cubberley Project will include community, staff and stakeholder meetings on January 21 and 22. The City Council previously approved funding to retain Concordia, the project’s prior consultant. A friends group has a letter of intent and may begin fundraising for a Recreation Wellness Center as a possible initial project. The commission took no action on the update.

Primary sources

Watch the meeting on YouTube · Read the official meeting packet