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 requires coordination between Community Services, Public Works Engineering and council budget decisions.

Staff presentation and next steps Robicelli said the project stems from the Parks, Trails and Natural Open Space and Recreation Master Plan and explained that staff ran an online outreach survey from Jan. 13–Feb. 13 to inform an initial decision. She summarized the raw numbers in the packet and said staff will propose funding in the FY26 budget process; Public Works Engineering would lead the site design and the Park Improvement Ordinance review before returning to the commission and council for final approval. O'Kane told commissioners the consultant-led Coverley Community Center effort is moving quickly and that staff will return to PRC in April with more detail on schedules and community meetings.

Public commenters split on support and concerns Twelve members of the public spoke during the item. Several gardeners, older residents and parents said a restroom is a basic need and asked for prompt action. Mary Kate (listed in the meeting as “Mary S.”), who lives across from the community garden, said, “We heard from over 1,000 Palo Altans and the results are clear,” and urged that the commission add the restroom to the budget in June.

Other neighbors questioned the survey method and warned about unintended impacts. A resident who identified herself as Orit called the questionnaire leading and urged the city not to treat the results as definitive. Evan Reed, whose home backs up to the park, said the park was designed as a neighborhood park and that the city must be careful about converting it into a destination that increases traffic and requires ongoing maintenance.

Commission discussion Commissioners emphasized two recurring themes: (1) the need for clear, verifiable outreach—several said staff should validate survey responses for duplicates or nonlocal entries—and (2) the importance of design details, including building placement, landscaping and features that limit vandalism and nighttime use. Several commissioners requested that staff explore temporary options (for example, short-term rented restroom units) to meet immediate needs while the longer budget, design and permitting process proceeds.

What the city said about timing and cost Robicelli and O'Kane told the commission the project would be folded into the FY26 proposed budget and would then go before the finance committee and full council in June. Staff said design, permitting and construction phasing will be shaped by Public Works Engineering, and that the Mitchell Park restroom project is delayed by staffing constraints. Staff did not provide a construction cost estimate at the March 25 meeting and said detailed cost and schedule estimates will follow the alternatives and design work.

Closing No formal action was taken by the commission on March 25; staff will present additional design details and schedule options in future meetings if council funds the project in the FY26 budget.