Commission hears parkland dedication update; ad hoc recommends partial Rinconada garden dedication while Measure E and former treatment‑plant parcels remain on‑

Community Services Director Kristen O'Kane briefed the Parks and Recreation Commission on July 22 about the city's parkland inventory, development‑timeframes and short‑term opportunities for formal park dedication.

Kane said Palo Alto currently has 34 city parks totaling about 175 acres and, separately, roughly 4,000 acres of open‑space preserves. The city recently opened a 0.64‑acre addition at Boulware Park and dedicated a 0.2‑acre mini‑park called Towerwell Park downtown.

Staff and the commission's ad hoc reviewed candidate sites and near‑term feasibility. The findings presented were:

• Measure E Baylands site (adjacent to the Regional Water Quality Control Plant): up to 10 acres currently undedicated; feasibility is contingent on Public Works' study of a biosolids processing facility and off‑site alternatives. Staff said dedication cannot proceed until Public Works resolves the facility siting question.

• Rinconada Community Gardens (approx. 2.5 acres adjacent to Rinconada Library): utilities have flagged a well and possible future groundwater well footprint near the garden; staff and the ad hoc recommended pursuing a partial dedication of roughly the southern 2 acres while protecting utility access and future well expansion needs.

• San Antonio Avenue at Ponce Drive: a small parcel identified by residents as a potential mini‑park; the San Antonio Area Plan currently lists transportation projects in that corridor and transportation staff have asked that the parcel not be dedicated now because it may be needed for future roadway improvements.

• Former Los Altos treatment plant (northern LATP parcel): Valley Water is evaluating whether the parcel could be used for a regional water purification facility; dedication is on hold pending Valley Water's decision.

Kane reported one near‑term add: the Fry's redevelopment at 340 Portage Avenue is slated to transfer about 2.25 acres for park uses as part of the project; that land would require a future capital improvement project (CIP) to design and construct a public park amenity. She also noted that the larger San Antonio Road Area Plan — an extensive planning effort through about 2028 — is a multi‑year opportunity to identify new park sites as the corridor changes.

During public comment, Herb B. urged the commission to follow procedural steps and ensure the city evaluates off‑site alternatives for biosolids facilities before finalizing parkland decisions, citing prior council action to buy an off‑site parcel and warning that prematurely designating land could invite legal challenges.

The commission's ad hoc recommended that staff pursue the Rinconada partial dedication and said the Fry's parcel and the San Antonio planning effort represent larger opportunities that staff and the commission should continue to track. Staff said the next steps for Rinconada would include confirming the precise area available for dedication with Utilities, commissioning a legal land survey and preparing an ordinance for commission and council consideration.