[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6241385,"mediaKeyId","3255977-f18eaff5094218953133b55ea75e94cc","parentId",3255977,"title","Committee reviews playground redesign and two restroom options at Holbrook Palmer Park; staff to confirm site access for prefab unit","audioSeconds",2467,"startMs",1527091,"endMs",3994484,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3255977-f18eaff5094218953133b55ea75e94cc&start=1527&end=3994","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3255977-f18eaff5094218953133b55ea75e94cc/thumbnail_1527091.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6241385/California/Committee-reviews-playground-redesign-and-two-restroom-options-at-Holbrook-Palmer-Park-staff-to-confirm-site-access-for-prefab-unit","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241385-8e3c77b760d04e41a07517810c3e5358/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139729&Signature=GyES8foAgHcQcek0VisXyhFUbS3MwZVVdr2YO1LRU4AEMH4z2vTgZQDS82jpnhiE2Eph3vnqDsWaIrffo7YdUxmwRvfkYMaQjs1uE6CGGbuIZPj~p3mvTRbZiDAxuqO~bDDYqkrLc1EBqFUCmw1wXZgheLF0NWhJPmunVmCxMpzBRYKMoz9vpBRE33~Znunys8hj-ZEjyLfcnCUGf9hgZt34j6D6umKuxJLvX40OHz-uj45NdvKhR4sfR13KUbXlvF7AC9HjWUiyCHnFijyL7poacMY6BPTc7ksRapGbJabfSUCj-DH5z7L7jf76ZhJuQC48rP9aEEl-R0vuqQ2FzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town Council of Atherton CA","date","2025-05-08T20:08:58Z","article","The Parks and Recreation Committee reviewed updated playground designs and two restroom delivery options for Holbrook Palmer Park during the May 7 meeting, with staff saying the town’s current aggregate budget for demolition, site prep, utilities and a new pump system is $800,000.

Staff presented a playground redesign that responds to council feedback by increasing rubberized surfacing in the younger‑kids area, adding shade, rearranging swings and adding picnic tables. The design includes a willow‑hut‑style play feature, an accessible spinner in the older‑kids area, tandem and bucket swings in the younger area, integrated ground games (for example, hopscotch), and retention of a sandpit with digger toys. Project documents show the rubberized surfacing and additional shade structures are among the primary cost drivers.

Staff told the committee two restroom vendor approaches are viable. One vendor (the Public Restroom Company) offers a prefabricated concrete building that is manufactured off‑site, delivered in two halves and craned into place; staff said fabrication for the prefab option is roughly 16 weeks plus site prep, and the unit can be dropped in and finished quickly on site. The alternative, from Romtek/RomTech, is a build‑in‑place masonry block option assembled on site; staff estimated about two months of on‑site construction for that option. \"It's 16 weeks for the fabrication from when we order it, for the prefab one,\" staff said.

Committee members expressed two key logistical concerns. First, because the prefab restroom arrives in oversized pieces, staff must confirm whether trucks and cranes can traverse the park approach bridges and tight turns; those bridges have weight limits that could preclude bringing in large prefabricated halves. Second, the committee asked staff to obtain firm, line‑item prices and finish samples from both vendors so the subcommittee and full committee can finalize design choices.

Staff described the restroom layouts under consideration: three front doors (men, women and family/accessible), three stalls in each men’s and women’s rooms (including ADA stalls), two urinals in the men’s room with one at child height, and a family room with a lower‑height toilet, changing table and child sink step. Drinking fountains and a bottle‑filling station were included on the building exterior. Interior finishes under consideration include easy‑to‑clean FRP wall panels (rather than full tile) and porcelain fixtures; staff noted that tile would substantially increase cost.

Committee members reviewed timing and costs. The project manager said the prefabricated route shortens on‑site disruption but requires the transportation check; the build‑in‑place route increases on‑site activity and staging but may avoid the transportation constraint. Staff said both options are roughly comparable in price, but the bathroom cost is approximately $40,000–$50,000 over earlier estimates and that the council had indicated it would accommodate a $350,000 augmentation in the upcoming budget cycle to allow completion of the playground and restroom work. Staff also said construction and fabrication schedules would be coordinated so the bathrooms and playground work occur concurrently to limit overall closure time in the park.

The committee asked staff to schedule a site visit with the prefab vendor this week to verify access, to collect final pricing and finish selections from both vendors, and to return with a recommendation for the committee’s June or July meeting so the committee can vote and forward a package to council for final approval and bidding.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Parks and Recreation Committee Meeting May 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Parks and Recreation Committee reviewed updated playground designs and two restroom delivery options for Holbrook Palmer Park during the May 7 meeting, with staff saying the town’s current aggregate budget for demolition, site prep, utilities and a new pump system is $800,000.","taxTitle","Atherton Town, San Mateo County, California","taxId",72378,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6241389,"Atherton Little League asks committee for park Wi‑Fi and space for batting cage ahead of July tournament",350,67651,418551,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3255977-f18eaff5094218953133b55ea75e94cc&start=67&end=418","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3255977-f18eaff5094218953133b55ea75e94cc/thumbnail_67651.jpg","/articles/6241389/California/Atherton-Little-League-asks-committee-for-park-WiFi-and-space-for-batting-cage-ahead-of-July-tournament","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241389-3f68938c2f8ec234b6d68e90f5d5752c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139729&Signature=AHlk9cG3wyi2RImIgX-nkBt0cSVBsbMbMqEobyQG9E~KnVP2uhXrmfFKBz2Z3EMdJwuTwfbWpsb8p~B-wYxMsVHXrhxT0YVCIsRR2vq1repZYQoINHGTkYJpw~aVjqVgsJtqMo01qytWOoYkhjMVi12eY6fuSqW-3X50EfBI-yOi-bQq~B~wOnmxyZgDBXMhAClcR3Xm-QxcIJKgKBrMDcOe4aQm3HhMHYznn0nBJ70yaa0pDsGUOCovTS8bvEwq6yUjeDk7fTLr6ImFC9RWH0H1gJp6NS-Xv5qAJx6PiNYpqbxrjjB2rUlnEZrDzDbgIevussjBO1AccaF~vy8H9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","My name is Ryan Braniff. I'm a Little League volunteer board member, and the minors division plays at Holbrook Palmer Park, the league told the Atherton Parks and Recreation Committee on May 7.

Braniff, who said Middle Atherton Little League is an affiliate of Little League International and serves players roughly ages 4–12, updated the committee on league operations and asked the town to consider two facility changes: park internet access to enable livestreaming and a permanent batting cage near Holbrook Palmer Park's left‑field line.

The league enrolls about 200–300 players annually and operates as a parent‑run nonprofit funded by registration, sponsorships and donations. Braniff said the league signed a lease that gives it exclusive use of the baseball field from February through June and that the town recently extended that lease for an additional five years.

Braniff said the league will co‑host the District 52 Minors postseason tournament — with teams from Redwood City, Palo Alto and other district towns — at Holbrook Palmer Park from July 13 through July 18. \"We're co‑hosting the District 52 Super Bowl Minors Tournament,\" he said.

On streaming, Braniff asked the committee to investigate providing internet at Holbrook Palmer so families and grandparents can watch games remotely. \"We would love to have some sort of internet access at the parks so we could stream for all the families who get so much out of watching their grandparent or their grandkids play,\" he said. A resident who identified herself as a grandparent echoed the benefit, saying streaming allowed relatives to follow a child's at‑bat when they could not attend in person.

On a separate request, Braniff described a community proposal — not a formal application to the committee — for a permanent batting cage at Holbrook Palmer near the railroad tracks behind the left‑field line. He said a parent who owns an Atherton homebuilding business has offered to donate a full site design at no cost; Braniff called the idea exploratory and said no capital ask has been made of the town yet.

Committee members advised Braniff to start with staff on the Starlink/Wi‑Fi idea and to return with a formal proposal for any fixed batting cage. Staff said they would pass the league’s request along and that if the league brings a concrete proposal it would be routed through staff and then to the committee for review.

Braniff emphasized the league’s gratitude for Holbrook Palmer: \"That division plays at Holbrook Palmer Park ... it's just a really special place,\" he said. He also said the league provides scholarships to ensure participation regardless of ability to pay.

The presentation concluded with committee members inviting the league to return with any formal proposals about internet service or a batting cage so staff could assess site, safety and permitting issues.

","Middle Atherton Little League told the Parks and Recreation Committee it wants internet access at Holbrook Palmer Park to livestream games and is exploring a permanent batting cage; the league will co‑host a District 52 postseason tournament there July 13–18.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6241381,"Donor money prompts committee to study options for pickleball courts, clay‑court preservation and accessibility",1108,4198215,5306215,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3255977-f18eaff5094218953133b55ea75e94cc&start=4198&end=5306","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3255977-f18eaff5094218953133b55ea75e94cc/thumbnail_4198215.jpg","/articles/6241381/California/Donor-money-prompts-committee-to-study-options-for-pickleball-courts-claycourt-preservation-and-accessibility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241381-3ff94fb510a8c57ce29f08cafa07e125/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139729&Signature=UZiYNmXVs4FWTIlgqnxmyAsbE~CqF~A9tn9SffcWpKeJONBZdAs2gh6~Wh3VK3VYadjowEBy~9tgZ-wS8SLTC9RSEAIzOPsjOH~27XHWUY2Ob6ZqG3HTrYnIgA2AokPl2eQvCINYvof4sHUZAl8h9C0DNEDqs1Dx~agmGWe7Sp3bAI8qUHWuZdOTxqBaccQL4mQdn~VIeWRF1i5~WApYl1qWb~J~hYsxhWqR~9bvbtZpVImJc~scSz~f-gEtnWeSGqUtpDx-q0usf5ghQqj3Qcw9pbQBke3iwuHPjjTHZdMCHspqVr21l-tNaERBhxHvFOUyniVHazMM0MNKootZtA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee discussed a council referral about a possible donation to build pickleball courts at Holbrook Palmer Park and whether that money would require converting the park’s clay tennis court.

At the May 7 meeting committee members said an interested donor has funds in a foundation and may be prepared to underwrite new court construction; staff and members said the donor must decide where to allocate the gift and that the town should quickly determine whether it can accommodate a preferred design. \"She's got the money. It's in a foundation, and she's gotta spend it,\" one committee member said.

Opinions among committee members differed. Some members favored keeping the clay court because a small number of players use it to prepare for clay‑court tournaments. Others supported converting space for permanent pickleball courts, with one option placing two vertical (stacked) pickleball courts near the handball wall; that proposal could avoid removing existing tennis courts but may require moving a shed, regrading and new surfacing.

Accessibility and circulation emerged as additional constraints: the pathway to the proposed rear location (near the shed and Feltton/Felton Gables area) is not currently ADA accessible, and any conversion would likely require building accessible paths and possibly relocating structures. Committee members also noted potential neighborhood impacts, including proximity to homes and the need for sound‑attenuating screening around courts.

Staff said further investigatory work is required: measureable cost estimates, site dimensions and grading needs, whether the donor’s timeline suits town procurement, and whether the donor is willing to fund relocation or accessibility work. The committee asked staff to reach back to the donor with options and to return with estimates and feasibility analysis so the committee can develop a recommendation to council.

No formal decision was taken; the matter will return to committee pending staff follow‑up.

","Council referred a possible donor offer to fund new pickleball courts back to the Parks Committee. Committee members debated converting a clay court, keeping clay for tournament practice, and whether donor funds could instead pay for courts near the handball court; staff will return with cost estimates and accessibility analysis.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee reviews playground redesign and two restroom options at Holbrook Palmer Park; staff to confirm site access for prefab unit

Atherton Little League asks committee for park Wi‑Fi and space for batting cage ahead of July tournament

Donor money prompts committee to study options for pickleball courts, clay‑court preservation and accessibility