Palo Alto trims Foothills Nature Preserve plan; staff proposes narrower safety-focused scope

City staff presented a reduced-scope version of the 2023 Foothills Nature Preserve concept plan on Oct. 28, focusing on safety and access improvements near the preserve entrance, Boronda Lake and Vista Hill.

Public Works senior engineer Megha Bansal said the scaled-back concept follows City Council direction as part of the FY26 midyear budget review and shifts the project away from some of the larger 2023 proposals such as a new hardscape parking lot across Boronda Lake and a longer paved walkway to the Interpretive Center. The reduced scope includes designated 3–4 foot pedestrian pathways surfaced with "quarry fines," curb or boulder barriers where appropriate, up to seven potential speed humps on preserved roads, crosswalks at path-road junctions, re-striping or reconfiguration of some parking areas and two new benches at the Vista Hill viewpoint. Bansal said no tree removals are proposed in the reduced scope and that preliminary, conceptual construction costs are roughly $300,000 (very preliminary).

Commissioners, liaison members and public commenters pressed staff on several points during a robust discussion: some argued the proposed elimination of roughly 12–14 parallel gravel parking spaces along the lake (to be replaced by an overflow lot higher up the road under the reduced plan) would be unpopular with users and would affect accessibility. Commissioners questioned whether at least one ADA-accessible space should be preserved or added near the lake and asked staff to further study hardscape alternatives to gravel that avoid visually dominant asphalt. Several commissioners asked staff to include additional tree planting along Las Trampas Meadow to increase shade and habitat, and to explore additional habitat-protecting measures where visitor trampling has damaged sensitive areas. The commission also asked for more detail about the planned seven speed humps and whether they could allow removal of the existing flashing speed-warning sign.

Staff said the next steps are to incorporate commission feedback, proceed into design, and bring final construction documents to PRC for recommendation under the Park Improvement Ordinance process and to City Council in spring 2026; construction was tentatively anticipated for fall 2026 in staff's schedule, though the cost estimate and scope must be refined in design.