Parks and Recreation Commission - October 28, 2025

El Camino turf study recommendation advances to City Council

The Parks and Recreation Commission voted 4-1 to approve staff’s recommendation on the updated playing-field turf study, with risk-mitigation measures restored to the report’s general recommendations. Staff planned to forward the recommendation to City Council for consideration on Nov. 17.

The study’s consultant recommended resurfacing the end-of-life synthetic field at El Camino Park with synthetic turf to preserve playing capacity while the city tests ways to improve natural-grass fields and evaluates potential additions. Commissioners supporting the recommendation also sought stronger environmental safeguards, recycling information, field-material details, monitoring and clearer performance and cost benchmarks for a natural-grass pilot.

The discussion reflected competing concerns about athletic-field access and synthetic turf’s potential health and environmental effects. Youth soccer representatives supported maintaining El Camino’s year-round capacity, particularly during rainy weather, while other commenters and commissioners raised concerns about PFAS, microplastics, heat and disposal at the end of the turf’s life.

Staff said a quality-control review reduced the estimated annual use of the El Camino field to approximately 2,753 hours from about 4,300 hours after correcting double counting. Converting the field to natural grass was estimated to cost $1.5 million to $2 million, excluding additional maintenance staffing and expenses, and take about 18 months for design, construction and grow-in. Some participants continued to question the study’s assumptions despite the correction.

Reduced Foothills safety plan heads into design

Staff said it would proceed with design of a smaller Foothills Nature Preserve safety project after receiving commission feedback, although the commission took no formal vote. The preliminary construction estimate is approximately $300,000, about 30% to 35% below the 2023 concept.

The revised project focuses on the preserve entrance, Boronda Lake and Vista Hill. It narrows planned quarry-fines paths from 5 to 6 feet to 3 to 4 feet, avoids tree removal and drops a new asphalt parking lot, Vista Hill bus parking and planned pathways through sensitive habitat. Remaining elements include seven possible speed humps, one-way traffic enforcement at Vista Hill, parking changes and two benches.

Parking near Boronda Lake remained the main point of disagreement. Some commissioners asked staff to evaluate 12 to 14 gravel or hardscape spaces near the lake to avoid a net parking loss, while others prioritized removing asphalt and relying on an existing overflow lot about 100 meters away. Staff said the lake currently has no accessible parking and will evaluate whether remaining spaces can be modified to meet accessibility standards.

Design work will also consider open-space-appropriate crosswalks and signs, a possible future path extension toward Oak Grove and potential wildlife-crossing measures. Construction is anticipated to begin in fall 2026 and take three to four months, following budget and City Council approvals.

Staff declines permanent Arastradero trail closure for now

Staff said it was not recommending permanent closure of a designated 390-foot trail in the Bowl area of Pearson-Arastradero Preserve at this time. The commission did not take formal action on the update.

Most public commenters opposed the closure, citing access for seniors, families and less-experienced visitors, along with concern that it would reduce trail choices and increase crowding elsewhere. Supporters of a closure emphasized habitat protection, erosion reduction and restoration of the seasonal pond area.

Staff plans to continue monitoring the area and work with Grassroots Ecology on biological surveys and possible habitat-management measures. Commissioners also discussed controlling informal trails, improving signs and evaluating fencing or other protections within the preserve’s existing seasonal-closure policy.

Staff will reassess Baylands conservation planning

Commissioners did not formally endorse staff’s proposal to restart work on the Baylands Comprehensive Conservation Plan by reengaging its consultant, revising the draft and seeking City Council adoption by winter 2027. Staff instead said it would evaluate options and return after considering the commission’s feedback.

Commissioners questioned whether the delayed draft could be adequately updated to reflect changed regulations, infrastructure conditions, wildlife needs and sea-level-rise planning. Some favored completing the existing document as a historical or background report and redirecting future work toward a new wildlife enhancement and resilience plan.

Staff said the plan needs stronger sea-level-rise material following the city’s 2022 vulnerability assessment but suggested that its core elements might still be strengthened. The next review will consider the city’s obligations, available budget, consultant costs, community engagement and whether to add a wildlife-management component.

Greer skate park effort stalls after fundraising shortfall

The proposed Greer Skate Park will not proceed in its current form because the required community fundraising was not achieved. The commission received correspondence reporting that the initiative’s leader is stepping back after supporters secured $87,000 in pledged donations. The prior work could provide a starting point if other advocates revive the proposal.

Primary sources

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