Palo Alto staff present Eleanor Pardee Park restroom survey; council funding to be considered in June budget

City community services staff told the Parks and Recreation Commission on March 25 that an online survey of Eleanor Pardee Park produced 1,171 responses and that 82% of respondents supported installing a public restroom at the park.

The results were presented by Sarah Robicelli, Community Services division manager for Open Space, Parks and Golf, who said that 75% of respondents identified as residents and 18% opposed the installation. Kristen O'Kane, the city's Community Services director, told the commission staff plans to include the Eleanor Pardee Park restroom in the city's proposed fiscal year 2026 budget and expects public design work and a Park Improvement Ordinance to follow if the council funds the project.

Why this matters: Eleanor Pardee is one of the city's larger neighborhood parks, with playgrounds, community garden plots and high use by families and older adults. A restroom would change maintenance, access and safety considerations for neighbors and park users and…