Parks and Recreation Commission - March 24, 2026

Commission recommends Cubberley master plan in 4-0-1 vote

The Parks and Recreation Commission voted 4-0-1 to recommend that City Council adopt the Cubberley Conceptual Master Plan. The advisory action advances a phased framework for recreation, arts, education, open space, circulation and parking, but leaves land acquisition, funding, final design, environmental action and construction decisions unresolved.

Staff estimated Phase 1 at $300 million to $400 million, including about $65 million for land acquisition. The 15-acre planning area consists of eight city-owned acres and seven acres under negotiation for purchase from the Palo Alto Unified School District, with another 20.5 acres anticipated for lease for parking lots, athletic fields, and track and field. Potential first-phase elements include a recreation and wellness center, performing arts complex, education and visual-arts space, pool, tennis courts, flexible event space and 640 parking spaces.

Staff said that if the land acquisition occurs in 2027, construction would begin no earlier than 2030. The Phase 1 buildings would take about two years to complete at the fastest.

The recommendation drew no opposing votes. Commissioner Shani Kleinhaus abstained, saying she was not comfortable recommending adoption without architectural and landscape designs and raising concerns about trees, permeable open space, environmental review, neighborhood effects and whether polling supported the plan’s scale. Chair Nellis Freeman and Vice Chair Bing Wei supported the recommendation, with Freeman describing the plan as an adaptable, community-informed framework rather than a decision on every future design and funding question.

The draft environmental study found that mitigation would reduce identified impacts involving air quality, geology and soils, hazardous materials, noise and transportation to less-than-significant levels. Public review runs through April 1. A neighboring commenter requested safe bicycle and pedestrian access and raised concerns about noise and possible lighting from elevated tennis courts; staff said the plan does not propose lighting the courts.

Funding remains uncertain. The council liaison reported that an ad hoc committee had dropped a parcel-tax option after weak polling and was testing sales-tax levels and ballot wording. An earlier poll showed 48% support for both parcel- and sales-tax approaches. Polling was scheduled to close March 28, and staff plans to bring the final environmental document and conceptual plan to City Council on April 20. The council is expected to decide in June whether to place a funding measure on the November 2026 ballot.

Commission urges usable parks in San Antonio growth plan

Commissioners urged staff to provide usable parkland and safe walking and bicycling connections as Palo Alto considers accommodating 4,000 to 7,000 new homes along the San Antonio Road corridor. No vote was taken during the study session on the roughly 275-acre plan area, which spans nearly two miles and now contains about 800 homes.

Staff’s alternatives focus partly on the park-deficient area near U.S. 101. They include a two- to three-acre neighborhood park at the approximately 25-acre Fabian Way/Maxar site, several smaller parks, publicly accessible privately owned spaces and new pedestrian and bicycle connections. Because nearly all land in the planning area is privately owned, staff said parks may require developer dedication, fees or a City acquisition.

Wei supported parks of roughly one acre or larger if they include green space, play areas and seating. She also called for a traffic study addressing safe pedestrian, bicycle and curb access and emphasized tree canopy. Kleinhaus preferred a combination of a larger park and smaller parks and opposed treating sidewalks or linear mobility corridors as parkland.

Public commenters raised concerns about traffic, infrastructure capacity and locating parks beside busy arterial roads. They also requested stronger connections to Cubberley and other community facilities and greater emphasis on street trees.

Staff plans to seek City Council feedback in April and direction on the broad planning framework in June. The proposal is expected to return to the commission later in 2026, followed by a draft plan and environmental review in 2027. Staff hopes to bring the plan to City Council for adoption in early 2028.

First Tee facility agreement extended through February 2029

The City and First Tee Silicon Valley extended their facility-use agreement for three years, through February 2029, staff reported. The parties will continue discussing a longer-term agreement concerning planned golf-course and practice-facility improvements.

Low enrollment leads to 21 skate camp cancellations

Staff reported that 21 skateboarding camps were canceled because of low enrollment, which staff attributed partly to their Redwood City location. The City was offering 289 summer camps for 2026, with 3,217 campers enrolled at the time of the report, and staff said it would continue adjusting offerings based on demand.

Commission denounces hate after hostile public comment

Multiple speakers made antisemitic, racist and other discriminatory statements, including violent rhetoric unrelated to commission business, during public comment. Following a recess, the commission stated that Palo Alto denounces discrimination and hate while continuing to provide equal access to public comment under First Amendment requirements.

Primary sources

Watch the meeting on YouTube · Read the official meeting packet