Survey shows maintenance and accessibility top concerns for Tiburon mini parks; Cypress Hollow singled out

The Parks, Open Space and Trails Commission presented results May 20 from a month‑long survey of three neighborhood “mini parks” — Cypress Hollow, Bel Air and Belvoir — that found consistent public priorities: improved maintenance, clearer signage and more accessible play surfaces.

Commissioner Burr and a fellow subcommittee member told the commission the online and mailed SurveyMonkey outreach produced 315 submissions; staff excluded 44 incomplete responses and analyzed 271 completed responses. That sample included 50 responses for Cypress Hollow, 26 for Bel Air and 95 for the larger Belvoir site.

For Cypress Hollow, top responses were restored and upgraded swings (residents noted a lack of adult‑accessible swing seats), improved maintenance and irrigation repairs. A recurring theme at the meeting and in the online responses was concern about dogs entering playground areas. Several residents urged a gate or fence around the playground; one resident who uses the park regularly said many parents would welcome a fenced playground to separate dogs from small children.

“An accessible, sealed play surface is important,” the subcommittee said in presenting results; several commissioners and a parent in the audience called out the existing wood‑chip surfaces as inaccessible for strollers and mobility devices and recommended a rubberized surface for safety and inclusivity.

Bel Air respondents emphasized maintenance and simple amenities such as benches, trash receptacles and signage: several residents had already placed informal benches in the park and asked that the town formalize and upgrade seating. Belvoir respondents prioritized improved landscaping, removal of invasive and flammable species, and modest play additions; the survey showed interest in a universal‑design playground element and a small “bike‑training” paved area.

Commissioners noted the survey results were often bimodal — many one‑star (unnecessary) responses and many five‑star (essential) responses — reflecting differing resident demographics and priorities. The commission said it intends to pass the survey findings to a landscape designer if Town Council approves the budget request to hire one as part of the FY26 capital improvements program.

Public commenters at the meeting reiterated maintenance concerns and, in some cases, urged the commission to include funding or staffing increases to sustain park upkeep. Several residents asked the town to make its maintenance request system and schedule more visible: staff responded that the town uses a civic request form (CivicEngage/CivicPlus) for residents to report park maintenance needs and that the department is reviewing FY26 staffing and contracted services to address shortfalls.

The subcommittee also hosted a playground symposium with designers and municipal staff to examine inclusive‑design approaches and presented cost examples: commissioners were reminded that a full playground replacement can reach into the low‑hundreds of thousands of dollars depending on surfacing and equipment. The subcommittee recommended that the town prioritize maintenance, signage and targeted improvements and incorporate universal design where feasible.

The commission will carry survey results into upcoming design conversations and any consultant scope of work should Town Council fund a landscape planner.