[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6576518,"mediaKeyId","3091074-8e30b2ce20aaa1e0154a5120a93c1198","parentId",3091074,"title","Staff seeks comment on proposed 390‑foot trail closure at Pearson Arastradero to protect seasonal wetland habitat","audioSeconds",2585,"startMs",9000000,"endMs",11585000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091074-8e30b2ce20aaa1e0154a5120a93c1198&start=9000&end=11585","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091074-8e30b2ce20aaa1e0154a5120a93c1198/thumbnail_9000000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6576518/Palo-Alto/Santa-Clara-County/California/Staff-seeks-comment-on-proposed-390foot-trail-closure-at-Pearson-Arastradero-to-protect-seasonal-wetland-habitat","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576518-c355242d7d4b1eac55b62c50a3ad5dd0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196708&Signature=GgXfQTha0sW8aKskM9g5Rta2TBNXVkCCxGL8gzw7mURWYMeO~MOjS~QQvwimC7gcb47YYWTjDNSduPolB9eJJQHRh8b~MSU~df9JKq~kcuabzODG~d2q2pLKECbbqO3GzWDe0jYxh0l-yIs5d2h~bjFZMUOdjNFae7~c8Lhy4jDPjk6hdvmTaeW5REaSKH0X3K9N5o7tggPOsls3yM82YHFWM3IXHUDism-soITHkX8Bqzyr0yyr9zrCA-DRTDmqUiC~0StPIhajWLpo1O47SiqHp~T1jq6I9L16~npENIKBVchIu-~fOGlQJXqbM~4RmbX6jiE8u3C-z2pDWFQgMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Palo Alto","date","2025-04-23T05:28:53.497Z","article","City staff asked the Parks and Recreation Commission on April 22 for public comment on a proposed closure and restoration of an unmarked 390‑foot trail segment in the Upper Bowl area of the Pearson Arastradero Nature Preserve.

Background and proposal

Staff outlined a timeline of prior actions dating to 2023, when California regulators restricted e‑bike access and local agencies were required to set their own rules for electric bicycles and similar devices in parks and open spaces. After field visits and consultation with preserve rangers and an ad hoc committee, staff recommended closing a short unmarked connector trail linking the Upper Bowl to the Meadowlark Trail. The proposed closure, staff said, would restore the path to native vegetation and reduce habitat fragmentation and erosion.

Why it matters: The Upper Bowl contains seasonally pooled water that supports frogs, salamanders and small invertebrates, and the area has patches of serpentine soils with locally important plant communities. Protecting the seasonal water habitat and the drying crust that supports small crustaceans (daphnia, copepods and ostracods) was cited by the ad hoc as a priority.

Commission discussion and ad hoc recommendation

The ad hoc recommended pursuing a closure of roughly half of the Upper Bowl footprint (in practice, a closure of the identified 390‑foot connector) and restoring the area with split‑rail fencing, signage and revegetation. Commissioners and ad hoc members emphasized balancing ecological protection with recreational opportunities and noted that closing the shortest, redundant trail would not cut off public access to the preserve because other, established trails provide shared connectivity.

Public comment and outreach

No members of the public signed up to speak on the item at the meeting. Staff opened a public comment period that will accept written input through July 1 and said additional outreach would include signage, ranger engagement and outreach materials explaining any seasonal closures. Staff said they will compile community feedback, assess enforcement and restoration costs and return to the commission with recommended action after the outreach window closes.

Ending

Staff and the ad hoc said the proposal aims to protect unique seasonal wetland habitat and reduce erosion by removing a redundant, unmarked trail. Commissioners asked for follow‑up information on restoration timing, approximate costs and what level of ranger enforcement and public education would accompany any closure.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Parks and Recreation Commission Retreat - April 22, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff asked the Parks and Recreation Commission on April 22 for public comment on a proposed closure and restoration of an unmarked 390‑foot trail connector in the Upper Bowl area of the Pearson Arastradero Nature Preserve to protect seasonal wetland habitat.","taxTitle","Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, California","taxId",3867,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6576525,"Palo Alto pickleball club offers to fund 8 new Mitchell Park courts; commissioners raise parking, noise and process concerns",2235,2901000,5136000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091074-8e30b2ce20aaa1e0154a5120a93c1198&start=2901&end=5136","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091074-8e30b2ce20aaa1e0154a5120a93c1198/thumbnail_2901000.jpg","/articles/6576525/Palo-Alto/Santa-Clara-County/California/Palo-Alto-pickleball-club-offers-to-fund-8-new-Mitchell-Park-courts-commissioners-raise-parking-noise-and-process-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576525-6ef873dad088fb170c0670dee2c4a5fc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196708&Signature=SzKyEZC6JH4-Zfst56Yti4B5iRG6YIeuIkJHF~gRFX4CRYvti2B5D1g46Bgvh98UiIjB2zxPgzEAPgbwMm6kQckNq9CwV4TAcy~istAvMa2Pp8lUhpjuAMBfy2sB4fjzftzTlFq~VTN20INQpcPHNL6yG-fOXSkSXGNFfWsXCMvdiHtrTqDaIhvNug~bSVqe4e0GWaDMppd6B0AMVT6PerRUQ425TORzd5-1lh4zDo7ScIEiafodunAhrmiWxPkZTlra1ISsJoxiF8gJ6tedABhNMiIqVzIluHxsze3ON~7tdl4Iwg9EfiCkByrOVc6grhf1PgOjqHhorIEczphVjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A representative of the Palo Alto Pickleball Club told the Parks and Recreation Commission on April 22 that demand at Mitchell Park has outstripped available courts and asked the city to investigate adding eight new courts at the site, paid for by the club and a private benefactor.

The club representative said Mitchell Park’s 15 courts now operate from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., have about 1,400 club members—58 percent of whom live in Palo Alto—and that courts are often “two or three times” over capacity. The proposal presented would expand courts from 15 to 23, increasing capacity by about 53 percent. The presenter said the club and the benefactor have funds lined up to cover construction costs and estimated an approximate project cost on the order of “a hundred ks,” and that the club would continue routine stewardship and maintenance if the expansion proceeds.

The commission’s governing role is not to approve the privately funded offer tonight; the presentation was informational. Commissioners and staff discussed next steps and asked for more detail on site selection, parking and neighborhood impacts, and the city’s capacity to manage any project.

Why it matters: Mitchell Park is a high‑use community facility in Palo Alto. A privately funded expansion could increase recreational capacity and reduce wait times for players, but commissioners and some residents cautioned that it could shift impacts—parking demand, noise and the loss of multiuse open space—onto surrounding neighborhoods and other park users.

Presentation and proposals

The club representative described pickleball as a low‑barrier sport that draws a wide age range and produces social and health benefits, and said Mitchell Park functions as a regional draw. The club suggested adding eight additional courts by resurfacing an existing area and installing courts at an estimated one‑time cost the presenter described colloquially as “about a hundred ks.” The presenter told commissioners the club would fund construction and expected no direct fiscal impact to the city and no increased ongoing maintenance costs because the club would steward the courts.

The presenter said Mitchell Park’s courts are heavily used—players wait 20 to 40 minutes for courts on many days—and that the club already coordinates youth programs, clinics and loaner equipment for people who lack paddles.

Public comment and commissioner reaction

During public comment, a resident identified as Young said she supported pickleball’s growth but opposed expanding courts at Mitchell Park because she said there is no vacant land there and that more courts would worsen parking and could reduce available tennis courts. Young suggested the city consider building a larger, dedicated facility on underused industrial or privately owned land elsewhere.

Commissioners praised the club’s volunteerism and programming but flagged process and impact questions: whether the discussion had been properly noticed for public input on an expansion, where new courts would be located, parking and traffic impacts, possible noise impacts for nearby housing, effects on youth and community programming if courts must be taken offline during construction or events, and staff capacity to manage a new project. Commissioner Kleinhouse said the presentation was informational but noted that more people may have attended had the item been noticed as an expansion discussion. Commissioner Greenfield asked for data on how many players drive to Mitchell Park versus walk or carpool.

Staff response and next steps

Adam Howard, senior community services manager, told the commission the issue is complex and that short‑term and long‑term options exist. Howard said staff is not prepared to make a decision tonight and described the presentation as “the start of a conversation” rather than a proposal for immediate action. He said staff would evaluate options, including site feasibility, parking mitigation and potential environmental constraints, and return to the commission with findings.

No formal motion or vote was taken on the expansion during the meeting. Commissioners and staff encouraged more public outreach and technical study of potential court locations, parking impacts and possible mitigation. Several commissioners urged rapid action to address current overcrowding while acknowledging the need for a systematic planning process.

Ending

The presentation gave commissioners and the public the club’s offer to fund an eight‑court expansion at Mitchell Park. The commission asked staff to return with analysis of location options, parking and neighborhood impacts, maintenance responsibilities and a process for public input before any formal action.

","A representative of the Palo Alto Pickleball Club told the Parks and Recreation Commission on April 22 that demand at Mitchell Park has outstripped available courts and asked the city to investigate adding eight new courts at the site, paid for by the club and a private benefactor.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6576522,"Palo Alto launches Cubberley master‑planning effort and a voter poll as city weighs a possible 2026 bond",5318,3185000,8503000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091074-8e30b2ce20aaa1e0154a5120a93c1198&start=3185&end=8503","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091074-8e30b2ce20aaa1e0154a5120a93c1198/thumbnail_3185000.jpg","/articles/6576522/Palo-Alto/Santa-Clara-County/California/Palo-Alto-launches-Cubberley-masterplanning-effort-and-a-voter-poll-as-city-weighs-a-possible-2026-bond","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576522-7b081e10aff54978a10f55bcde03fdd0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771196708&Signature=kKywwBoCriL~XAaXbfv9jUBtRW6Iql7hxIrUbr8hUc-CggUd4DsrNIRJvLCv1u2qnt1RwdN9VzvY6-EOAi1wQl-RgSSzJhsY6SnrrH8ed9V5JXZE-Z9mVO6TcJ2Pa37YR1-Pq0cDrH~-SWDpoQkJoxWFvEJrxDRg8OkoG~8358YjvIvmhrNG24tbIenHheAASVVDXceKFtFhXRam9KbEOWoXzcC~sB8pERDTaALoXE5egVyCcnPSsFtf3Ye~Aj~M3c9ArsmFXQj6bt2ERJKqv5KtZ8ieUKcGEVXLaL-w9yKpK0ekcKmrvUg-8V~Itbw-ITYVbYh8GCgCj~rWRz0LvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff told the Parks and Recreation Commission on April 22 that the Cubberley master‑planning process is moving quickly, with public polling and several community meetings planned this year to help shape a potential bond measure that staff hopes could appear on the November 2026 ballot.

The city and Palo Alto Unified School District earlier approved a memorandum of understanding that would allow the city to purchase roughly seven acres from the district; the city currently owns eight acres on the 35‑acre Cubberley site. If a future bond measure succeeds the city would develop approximately 15 acres as a new community center and associated open space, staff said.

Why it matters: Cubberley is a long‑studied, large community site in Palo Alto. A bond to acquire and redevelop land there would be a major, long‑term investment that affects arts, recreation, green space and tenant organizations that currently use the site.

What staff presented

Kristen O’Kane, the city’s community services director, said the city reengaged the Concordia consulting team to update the 2019 master plan and hired a pair of firms to assist with polling and ballot strategy. She told commissioners the city is working on parallel tracks: master‑planning concepts and voter testing, on a condensed timeline.

Staff said poll number one will be released April 28 using randomized outreach methods (phone, cell, text and email) and is intended to measure voter priorities for Cubberley and initial willingness to support a funding measure. Concordia will present three concept alternatives at a second community meeting on June 12, and staff said it will return to the commission with poll and meeting results later in June. Council review of poll results is scheduled in mid‑May and June, staff said. The project team described the poll as following industry standards and said early polling is intended to collect neutral baseline data not to advocate for the measure.

Public and commissioner input at the meeting

Commissioners and members of the public offered several suggestions and concerns: calls for clearer messaging and a compelling narrative about the project’s multi‑generational benefits; interest in “green” elements such as pollinator or butterfly gardens; questions about how polling samples will be stratified geographically and what sample size will be targeted; concerns about transparency and how poll questions are framed; and reminders about affordability and the risk of a project that grows too large and becomes expensive.

Council member Lythcott Hames and multiple commissioners emphasized that the poll is intended to be neutral to avoid skewing results and that other engagement channels—community meetings, online surveys and targeted outreach—will shape design details such as indoor arts spaces, open green space and flexible, multiuse facilities.

Next steps

Staff said the first poll will run starting April 28 (open roughly two weeks) and that poll and community meeting results will inform three design concepts to be presented June 12. Staff recommended creating a Cubberley ad hoc at the commission level to provide more frequent input between monthly meetings. The city will return to the commission with poll results, community input and recommended concepts later in June.

Ending

The Cubberley process will proceed on a condensed schedule of polling and community meetings through the summer and into fall. Staff urged commissioners and residents to participate in the June 12 meeting and other outreach channels; commissioners asked staff to circulate the specific poll materials and a link to the council attachment for review.

","City staff and consultants told the Parks and Recreation Commission that a compressed schedule will pair a master‑planning process for the Cubberley site with voter polling this year to inform a potential bond measure for a 2026 ballot. Staff said the city and the school district have an MOU for a land purchase that would give the city roughly 15","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Staff seeks comment on proposed 390‑foot trail closure at Pearson Arastradero to protect seasonal wetland habitat

Palo Alto pickleball club offers to fund 8 new Mitchell Park courts; commissioners raise parking, noise and process concerns

Palo Alto launches Cubberley master‑planning effort and a voter poll as city weighs a possible 2026 bond