Tiburon commission backs preliminary design work for Lineal Park sanitation-pond area

The Tiburon Parks, Open Space and Trails Commission voted unanimously May 20 to ask town staff to hire a landscape designer to prepare preliminary designs for the sanitation-pond area of Lineal Park, including a nature-based playground and a covered picnic area located between Blackie’s Pasture and the existing restroom.

The commission’s subcommittee on Lineal Park, represented in the meeting by Liz (subcommittee member) and Mike (subcommittee member), presented a months‑long community engagement process that included neighborhood meetings, a Del Mar Middle School student survey and an open workshop immediately before the meeting. The subcommittee described a plan that emphasizes “enhancements” rather than large-scale transformation of the waterfront corridor between Greenwood Beach and the southern end of Knowles.

“The approach is really enhancements of Lineal Park as opposed to major transformation,” Liz said during the presentation, summarizing the subcommittee’s guiding principle. Mike outlined specific proposals for discrete zones: landscaping and educational signage at Greenwood Beach; a contained off‑leash dog area and paved, striped parking at Blackie’s Pasture; a shaded, nature‑based playscape and consolidated picnic seating near Tiburon Boulevard; and the sanitation-pond area as a multiuse, flat space with sand-volleyball and basketball courts, a large turf or lawn, a seating/lounge structure and charging outlets.

The subcommittee emphasized concerns that surfaced repeatedly in outreach: neighborhood traffic and overflow parking, trail and multi‑use path safety (especially conflicts involving bicycles and e‑bikes), and wildfire/vegetation management on the knoll. The Del Mar Middle School student survey — commissioned by the subcommittee and reported by Mike — drew 32 responses, which the presenters said represented roughly 40% of the school population and showed strong student interest in sand‑volleyball and basketball. The subcommittee said students indicated they might use Lineal Park about twice a week if improvements were made and suggested that after‑school use could reduce some parent pickup traffic.

Members of the public who spoke in favor of the subcommittee’s concepts highlighted multigenerational use and potential community programming. Linda (resident), who spoke online, said: “I think Lineal Park area will get so much use… It’s a great plan.” Several residents and commissioners repeatedly raised the need to study parking impacts alongside any amenity additions.

After the presentation and public comment, the commission moved and seconded a recommendation that staff be asked to engage a landscape designer and produce preliminary designs “in line with the subcommittee’s recommendations for the sanitation pond site, a nature‑based playground and covered picnic area between Blackie’s Pasture and the bathroom in Lineal Park.” The motion passed on roll call: Chair Holbrook — yes; Vice Chair Moon — yes; Commissioner Judge — yes; Commissioner Ghaffari — yes.

The commission recorded that the design request will be presented to the Town Council; staff said the commission’s motion would be forwarded so it could be considered by council at its next meeting. In staff remarks earlier in the session, David (staff member) told commissioners the town requested design funding in the proposed FY26 capital improvement plan and that council direction tomorrow could influence final budget allocations.

What happens next: staff will include the commission’s recommendation in materials going to Town Council. If council approves funding and authorizes a contract, the landscape designer will refine concept designs, and the commission anticipates an additional public outreach stage before any final design decisions.

Votes at a glance: the meeting recorded two formal approvals relevant to the commission’s work. The body approved the March 17 meeting minutes (voice vote recorded as approved). The commission also approved the subcommittee‑aligned design request (roll‑call recorded above).