Grassroots Ecology tells Palo Alto commission it restored habitat, trained volunteers and grew native plants at Foothills and other preserves

Grassroots Ecology project manager Tyler Felt and co‑executive director Alex Monfelt told the Palo Alto Parks and Recreation Commission on July 22 that the nonprofit has expanded restoration, volunteer and workforce training work across local preserves including Foothills Nature Preserve and Arastradero.

The presentation focused on three city sites and the group's nursery at Foothills, describing recent planting, invasive plant removal and education efforts. "Grassroots Ecology is a nonprofit organization, that works very closely with Palo Alto Open Spaces," Tyler said, describing community‑based restoration and volunteer programs.

The report said volunteers helped install hundreds of native plants and supported monitoring and education. The group provided headline metrics to the commission: more than 7,000 volunteers over the last year, roughly 17,000 volunteer hours, nearly 30 AmeriCorps members and stewardship across about 2,000 acres of public open space in the region.

At Foothills, Felt said the organization has focused on invasive species removal, erosion control and a lawn‑replacement project in Las Trampas Valley. "Over the last 10 years, we have been slowly increasing a native plant restoration site, replacing the lawn in Las Trampas Valley with native plants to reduce flood risk and prevent erosion," he said. Grassroots reported installing more than 900 plants at Foothills and planting a 200‑plant habitat island in a new 7.7‑acre restoration parcel funded in part by Valley Water.

Monfelt described the nursery behind the Foothills ranger station, which grows locally native stock for Grassroots projects and for partner agencies. He also outlined the group's annual financial mix: approximately $200,000 the nonprofit receives from the city, about $160,000 raised in grants and donations, and an estimated $150,000 value of volunteer time. "We are a contractor to the city, and we get funding to bring out all these volunteer nonprofit and our mission is aligned with the mission of the park stewardship," Monfelt said.

Commissioners and members of the public asked about trash in Adobe Creek and volunteer capacity. Felt said trash pickup in Adobe Creek is not part of Grassroots Ecology's core scope and that the City of Menlo Park has historically funded much of that cleanup; the group picks up trash as part of restoration events but does not undertake full creek trash removal. On volunteer recruitment, presenters said interest is high, with rising AmeriCorps applications despite tighter federal funding streams.

Commissioners praised the group's work and asked for follow‑up on funding risks, nursery maintenance plans and coordination with city rangers. The presenters asked commissioners and the public to help amplify outreach, including social media, and encouraged continued partnership with the city.