[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6479855,"mediaKeyId","5692066-3e2606440fc0c4e312800cf6fe0306b9","parentId",5692066,"title","Parks and Recreation Commission approves three sets of minutes; full votes recorded","audioSeconds",162,"startMs",1114000,"endMs",1276000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5692066-3e2606440fc0c4e312800cf6fe0306b9&start=1114&end=1276","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5692066-3e2606440fc0c4e312800cf6fe0306b9/thumbnail_1114000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6479855/Palo-Alto/Santa-Clara-County/California/Parks-and-Recreation-Commission-approves-three-sets-of-minutes-full-votes-recorded","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479855-18d011612d6799b4eaeffc6f9acdab3c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153464&Signature=V5BTlD4jkxQqEsddB7qFl021CIQQR0~1y192k8rCSqdys~1cEZKwVnN~sazK7O41Q3E~tYsShhv1zl9EBmjiEqM1jKGqUWJ3mBdLcVMenvV2zXYGN0P3nlckrtcZ0p8ZVaVv01Jnlgp4UshyepSmdD1qJUKFP4VIF~j6U~9Na2qFLsCV46uco-TBuzpNAfqo10U7NA3vt6z8q6Y67VRWdh4dY4tuyD5RIyu-F1ALpVCSCXsF5w9KtgC7OBcdT0DqyNUb5AdEfDUOP4Kv9hBHJrbErhfZ7NXXz3ylJVwNTwFxr0LJi3xcFdrIam7LXXHqE8bB8O8XwfzTUfJ7D817Xw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Palo Alto","date","2025-08-27T06:32:03Z","article","Palo Alto — During routine business on Aug. 26 the Parks and Recreation Commission approved three sets of draft summary minutes for its recent meetings, the commission reported.

The commission voted to approve minutes for the May 27, 2025 meeting, the June 24, 2025 meeting, and the July 22, 2025 meeting. All three motions carried.

Recorded roll calls for the three motions were as follows (votes recorded from the meeting transcript):

- Approve May 27, 2025 minutes — Outcome: approved. Recorded votes: Commissioner Kleinhouse: yes; Commissioner Brown: yes; Commissioner Gripps: yes; Chair Freeman: yes; Vice Chair Greenfield: yes; Commissioner Dang: yes; Commissioner Wei: yes. Motion carries.

- Approve June 24, 2025 minutes — Outcome: approved. Recorded votes: Commissioner Brown: yes; Commissioner Gripps: yes; Commissioner Wei: yes; Commissioner Dang: yes; Chair Freeman: yes; Vice Chair Greenfield: yes; Commissioner Kleinhouse: abstain. Motion carries.

- Approve July 22, 2025 minutes — Outcome: approved. Recorded votes: Chair Freeman: yes; Commissioner Brown: yes; Commissioner Gripps: yes; Commissioner Wei: abstain; Vice Chair Greenfield: yes; Commissioner Dang: yes; Commissioner Kleinhouse: yes. Motion carries.

Mover and seconder names were not specified in the meeting transcript for these motions; the actions were recorded as standard procedural approvals and the chair announced each motion carried.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - August 26, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the Aug. 26 meeting the Parks and Recreation Commission approved summary minutes for May 27, June 24 and July 22, 2025. The motions carried; two abstentions were recorded across the three votes.","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},6479859,"Public commenters contest Palo Alto turf study; advocates urge organic‑care alternatives and firms tout recyclable, PFAS‑free synthetic turf",383,14623000,15006000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5692066-3e2606440fc0c4e312800cf6fe0306b9&start=14623&end=15006","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5692066-3e2606440fc0c4e312800cf6fe0306b9/thumbnail_14623000.jpg","/articles/6479859/Palo-Alto/Santa-Clara-County/California/Public-commenters-contest-Palo-Alto-turf-study-advocates-urge-organiccare-alternatives-and-firms-tout-recyclable-PFASfree-synthetic-turf","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479859-51425bfcc5c24067a98634b3232153d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153464&Signature=Dhf4rUj2824bheSZh8OLOo5lHqcBuojCJxt7ivPEhVrvA-DnBHtwAEPt2-w7P9JD~xxGSgEdWvfMzEgHMkm82plZJg0vTNGOcHtxLnUUpqrKJqTor4d77YVv2j5rulxJXqAEpqHnDGbPnvDSuS~VC9AjI2JCYCvSjvTZ9tO-7oPGtiHgbKIGiHbbnbBh0tQ98CreOdwCRgNmVqoYpXCGbRz2lDhTfI10vkYJ9-eclbTm6HanfHLUvGTJJwPmF0396vDijYYIbo6ufqcHuQ38RsV9u7tKj3tfF0MxFYE8YCG1nGFaplMcxbrqbdWZ5DOCjRlLoxMmj8H4yKycECBWWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Palo Alto — The Parks and Recreation Commission on Aug. 26 received public comment on a draft turf study but postponed the staff presentation to a special meeting; commenters offered sharply different technical views about artificial turf, microplastics, PFAS and whether improved organic grass management can meet community demand.

Manny Diaz, a consultant for TenCate Grass, a turf manufacturer, told commissioners that modern artificial systems address several commonly cited problems. Diaz said TenCate’s products can be recycled, that a PFAS‑free product (“Pivot”) is commercially available, and that well‑engineered artificial turf reduces long‑term operating costs compared with high‑use natural fields. Diaz provided the commission with technical materials and asked staff to examine newer product options and end‑of‑life recycling practices.

Several other speakers disputed the study’s implied conclusion that synthetic turf is the only option for high‑use fields. A number of commenters — including field managers and a soil scientist cited in public submissions — said the consultant report omitted examples of organically managed grass fields that have sustained much higher annual play hours than typical conventionally managed fields. One speaker cited case studies in which reconstructed or organically managed fields reported more than 2,000 playable hours per year and argued the consultant had not examined such approaches.

Neighbors also raised operational complaints about existing synthetic installations: one resident said older synthetic fields at Coverley shed infill pellets and required continuous raking and clean‑up, and that a prior synthetic field at that site lasted only six years. Other commenters questioned the study’s cost assumptions for natural‑grass maintenance and urged the city to commission targeted site visits to high‑use grass fields that have adopted different construction and management techniques before deciding on a preferred surface.

Staff response and next steps: The commission did not take action on the turf question at the Aug. 26 meeting. Staff announced they will schedule a special meeting to present the full consultant study and receive additional public input; commissioners asked staff to add analysis of organically managed fields, to examine recycling and PFAS‑free synthetic options, and to provide clearer, documented cost comparisons tied to local climate and soil conditions.

Why it matters: The choice of field surface affects playable hours, maintenance costs, stormwater and lifecycle environmental impacts, and potential exposure to microplastics and persistent chemicals. Commissioners asked staff for more complete comparisons, including real‑world examples and lifecycle analysis, before recommending capital or policy changes.

Public comment highlights:

- Pro‑synthetic: Manny Diaz (TenCate Grass consultant) — modern synthetic turf options can be PFAS‑free and recyclable; artificial surfaces provide year‑round playability and lower long‑term operating costs for high‑use sites.
- Pro‑grass/organic management: Multiple commenters and community groups cited field case studies and urged the city to investigate organically managed natural grass systems that report higher than expected carrying capacity.
- Operational concerns: Residents reported pellet infill shedding, short lifespans of some synthetic fields and high maintenance burdens.

The commission invited more technical submissions and asked staff to return with a fuller, evidence‑based presentation at a special public meeting.","Public comment on a draft turf study included competing technical views: a turf‑manufacturer consultant said modern synthetic systems can be recycled and PFAS‑free, while others urged the city to study organically managed natural grass fields that some districts report supporting thousands of annual play hours.",{"_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},6479864,"Debate erupts over Mitchell Park pickleball expansion as residents, players clash over noise, parking and court access",5016,6199000,11215000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5692066-3e2606440fc0c4e312800cf6fe0306b9&start=6199&end=11215","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5692066-3e2606440fc0c4e312800cf6fe0306b9/thumbnail_6199000.jpg","/articles/6479864/Palo-Alto/Santa-Clara-County/California/Debate-erupts-over-Mitchell-Park-pickleball-expansion-as-residents-players-clash-over-noise-parking-and-court-access","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479864-d76068727844c5f3b5f7cc2e23126248/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153464&Signature=k-vtmXnXEO2Q7-w5sxeZaE9c1Gec7wouIGMEd1F9LuRZA6xpKy5-gBDc8Xzx8QEhBCM7rvdGT3AxDxVWSV8p170gjE8Cw-MLl74e1VicWldFo2lcXi-zUIa4-N5RMb8PHDItrwMq~VQNKC9gtnfi0JgvgmHyHekth-Oh8bmUzvbLB3eZsXzUqZXsmOt4qD0NqFzTEXc4Id6H8QGLOZENnNzDEI3Qjk6-ocl-VW9mLlgUwJVtXFlfHlxs8UgxI4O2XFP7BwsHP5yo~nCgdmfsba1yDsqYN0~kd7bDZVyN~W5BfSKhxyLN1w1BqTtbeUmfAXs~Cqmb5wdRw6dPZFdGUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Palo Alto — A months‑long conflict between pickleball players and tennis users came to a head Aug. 26 as the Parks and Recreation Commission heard more than two hours of testimony for and against converting additional Mitchell Park tennis courts to pickleball and reviewed five staff options for addressing unprecedented demand.

Staff presented background data showing Mitchell Park currently houses 15 lit pickleball courts (eight dedicated, seven dual‑striped with pickleball priority) and reported repeated peak‑period overcapacity — for example, a Thursday evening spot check found 52 people playing and 61 waiting. The staff list of potential next steps ranged from converting tennis courts 3 and 4 to pickleball, to striping additional courts to support both sports, to restricting nonresident use, to building new dedicated facilities or reconfiguring other city sites.

Palo Alto Pickleball Club president David Siegel urged the commission to approve conversion of two underused tennis courts into eight additional pickleball courts, telling commissioners the club and its benefactors would pay for the work and any required equipment. “The club believes once that slide goes up … the cost to the city will be $0,” Siegel said. He said the club represents “well over 1,000 members, 58% of whom are Palo Alto residents,” and argued an increase of pickleball courts would reduce long waits and improve community wellness and social connection.

Opponents — including nearby residents, long‑time tennis players and parents — warned the conversion would intensify parking and noise problems at the busy, mixed‑use Mitchell Park. Several speakers submitted a neighborhood petition opposing expansion and described frequent difficulty finding library parking. “Mitchell Park is a community park, not a regional sports hub,” one resident read from the petition. A number of parents and residents said the park’s proximity to the Magical Bridge playground and senior housing made noise and parking particularly sensitive.

Staff said the conversion proposal had generated extensive public feedback; “as of this morning at about 10, we had received 27 emails — 25 were against,” Howard said. He also reported two letters in support: one from the Stevenson House board president (the senior housing adjacent to the park) and one describing a private arrangement offering 35 additional parking spots outside peak hours.

Commissioners and staff discussed each option’s tradeoffs. Supporters of a Mitchell Park conversion said the site’s lights, amenities and central location make it efficient for play; critics said the park’s configuration and community uses make it a poor candidate for a large expansion. Other possibilities discussed included:

- Dual‑striping additional courts to allow flexible tennis/pickleball use, but staff warned that sharing courts increases conflict and requires net storage and active management.
- Limiting nonresident access by resident‑only keys or registration systems, which would likely require new administration and is inconsistent with some city traditions of open park access.
- New construction of dedicated pickleball courts or conversion of non‑park surfaces (school blacktops, private partnerships or underused municipal parcels), which would be costly and take longer but would preserve existing tennis facilities.
- Reconfiguration that would add lighting at Cubberley and consolidate tennis elsewhere while converting Mitchell Park primarily to pickleball; staff noted adding lights requires extensive review and community approvals.

Speakers from neighboring cities’ clubs urged the commission to consider regional solutions rather than restricting play. Representatives from Mountain View, Sunnyvale and San Jose described ongoing or planned expansions of public pickleball capacity in their cities, and San Jose and Mountain View club leaders said they had pursued public‑private partnerships and municipal investments in new courts.

Commissioners gave mixed initial signals. Several members praised staff’s analysis and suggested a short‑term pilot such as dual striping or a targeted conversion, paired with longer‑term efforts to identify new, distributed sites and potential public‑private partnerships. Others said they were not prepared to endorse a Mitchell Park conversion because of the concentration of community uses and the risk of permanently displacing tennis in a high‑quality park setting.

No formal decision was taken. Staff requested direction on which options to analyze further; commissioners asked staff to report back with a feasibility analysis that includes parking, noise and neighborhood impacts, a timeline, and possible mid‑term options that would shift demand to other sites. Several commissioners urged convening an ongoing stakeholder working group that includes representatives from the tennis and pickleball communities, neighborhood groups, the Parks Foundation and relevant city departments.

Next steps: Staff said it will gather additional data, explore potential sites and partnerships (including outreach to neighboring cities about their procurement and siting approaches), and return with more detailed cost and impact analyses. The commission encouraged a collaborative community working group to seek a durable, distributed solution rather than concentrating more courts at Mitchell Park.","The commission heard competing views on whether to add pickleball courts at Mitchell Park, with the Palo Alto Pickleball Club offering to fund conversion of two tennis courts and opponents raising noise, parking and equity concerns. Staff presented five options and asked commissioners which to study further.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6479868,"Palo Alto staff propose 25% residency rule for USTA teams as school district ends maintenance agreement",1002,2745000,3747000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5692066-3e2606440fc0c4e312800cf6fe0306b9&start=2745&end=3747","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5692066-3e2606440fc0c4e312800cf6fe0306b9/thumbnail_2745000.jpg","/articles/6479868/Palo-Alto/Santa-Clara-County/California/Palo-Alto-staff-propose-25-residency-rule-for-USTA-teams-as-school-district-ends-maintenance-agreement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6479868-dd9e2951d8251294ecadd806ce668c57/orig.mp4?Expires=1771153464&Signature=ITzh8cIIt4Rz196a1peO9n8RFzxiriyIXiu3-nOdNMDiDquvhh5mFkNJ4cg-sUbtbQMD6rpPbil-ID30xylTNpxtZ4rHIZKECKbTWA61rCeZoGSbCE23bcpyVgy9k6IN69P4lfGBf6vyaA~85VmAj4VGCm1fi6t9zojoUTob4KDAshdxA8exvqOrSK3--j~-xgAP~PjZQWhI5H0MmSiClU9UIQzYWnWjb8kCfosm5vKEhs8~Q8NYbD6sFjvvtvlDNaKf50GwfJUAVk7p87szCn5rLms6u3EWyhcHIKQzPfT9N1CKXVXKiB8OSey7m805NHrbgiaGZSUoyEpHG4B96w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Palo Alto — City staff told the Parks and Recreation Commission on Aug. 26 that they plan to propose a minimum residency requirement of 25% for United States Tennis Association (USTA) teams seeking to reserve city courts, formalize greater access for Palo Alto youth groups during off-peak hours, and pursue stronger enforcement to curb long private lessons.

The policy proposal comes as the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) notified city staff that it intends to terminate its field-and-court maintenance and brokering agreement effective Nov. 11. Department staff said the district will honor existing user groups while the city and PAUSD transition reservation systems.

Why it matters: The combination of high demand for court time and the pending PAUSD change could reduce community access unless the city tightens rules, changes priorities for reservations or finds new facilities. Staff said the goal is to protect community priority access while keeping organized adult match play viable.

Adam Howard, senior community services manager, laid out three principal recommendations: (1) require USTA teams to include at least 25% Palo Alto residents to book city courts and give higher-residency teams priority when selecting match times and locations; (2) explore ways to improve enforcement of the existing prohibition against private, paid tennis instruction on city courts (including use of visual “court clocks” to enforce the one-hour-15-minute drop-in limit); and (3) formalize a policy allowing Palo Alto–based youth organizations to reserve courts during defined non‑prime times (staff suggested weekday mornings and mid‑day hours) while ensuring the 50% match-play cap at a single site remains in force.

Howard said staff developed the 25% figure after reviewing rosters for teams that had booked courts this spring. “We looked at the teams that were requesting space in Palo Alto and found many teams had a low percentage of residents,” he said, adding that some earlier residency calculations were corrected downward when staff rechecked rosters on the USTA site. Howard described 25% as a starting point that many existing teams could meet; he said staff would consider a staggered increase if the commission wanted a higher eventual threshold.

In public comments, USTA captain Wen Xin urged the city to keep resident rates low while raising nonresident fees to create a larger disincentive for teams outside Palo Alto. “Our reservation fees are very low — it's $8 per hour for residents, and nonresidents only $10,” Wen said. She proposed raising the nonresident rate to as much as $30 an hour and suggested a one‑year ban for teams found to roster people who do not actually play.

Commissioners pressed staff on enforceability and potential gaming of rosters. Howard said staff would verify rosters on the USTA website and undertake spot checks but acknowledged record‑keeping and monitoring would require ongoing effort. Commissioners discussed alternatives Howard had considered, including residency tied to the team captain (rejected as too weak) and higher rental rates for nonresidents (rejected as likely to create a financial barrier without guaranteeing reduced nonresident bookings).

Private instructors: The current city policy already bans private paid lessons on city courts, but Howard said enforcement has been difficult. Community participants said the main problem was instructors monopolizing courts beyond posted time limits. Howard described a low‑cost technical fix — a countdown “court clock” visible to park users — and said the idea had community support, though cost estimates were not yet in hand.

Youth access and PAUSD change: In the department report earlier in the meeting Sarah (Community Services) told the commission staff had been notified by PAUSD of its intention to end the city’s maintenance/brokering agreement effective Nov. 11 and that the district “intends to pursue alternative maintenance options.” She said PAUSD will honor existing user groups during the transition, and staff are working to transfer reservation data and reach out directly to user groups this week. Vice Chair Greenfield and several commissioners said the change makes any city policy update more urgent because school courts may no longer be governed by the city’s field-and-court use policy.

Next steps: Commissioners seeking clearer policy language asked staff to return with specific, redlined changes to the Field and Court Use Policy for PRC review and later council consideration. Howard said staff will work with the ad hoc committee to refine residency verification, enforcement mechanisms and proposed off‑peak youth booking windows before bringing formal language back to the commission for recommendation to city council.

Community reaction: Public commenters represented competing user groups. Some captains and resident players supported residency requirements and steeper nonresident fees to protect local access; other residents, particularly players who travel from nearby cities, cautioned that overly strict residency rules could be gamed and suggested other remedies, such as more courts or improved scheduling systems.

The commission did not take final action on the policy at the Aug. 26 meeting; commissioners directed staff to return with specific policy language and implementation details.","City staff proposed a 25% Palo Alto residency minimum for USTA team reservations, stronger enforcement of private-instructor prohibitions and formal access for youth groups as the Palo Alto Unified School District notifies the city it will terminate its field-and-court maintenance/brokering agreement effective Nov. 11.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parks and Recreation Commission approves three sets of minutes; full votes recorded

Public commenters contest Palo Alto turf study; advocates urge organic‑care alternatives and firms tout recyclable, PFAS‑free synthetic turf

Debate erupts over Mitchell Park pickleball expansion as residents, players clash over noise, parking and court access

Palo Alto staff propose 25% residency rule for USTA teams as school district ends maintenance agreement