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Woodside council accepts $2.5 million anonymous gift to fund Highway 84 median beautification
Summary
The Woodside Town Council approved a preliminary agreement to accept roughly $2.5 million from two anonymous donors, routed through the Woodside Community Foundation, to fully fund a median landscaping project on State Highway 84; staff said final design, Caltrans permits and county coordination are required before construction can begin (anticipated 2027).
The Woodside Town Council on Jan. 13 approved a preliminary agreement to accept approximately $2.5 million in private donations to fund a curb‑to‑curb median beautification project on State Highway 84 from U.S. 280 toward the Alameda.
Town Manager Jason Ledbetter told the council the gift, organized in coordination with the Woodside Community Foundation, would cover a project that the town had already placed on its 2026 Capital Improvement Program (it had previously set aside $200,000). Ledbetter said the town has a conceptual design and will pursue an engineered design, a Caltrans encroachment permit (because the median is on state right‑of‑way), and coordination with the county for portions of median not owned by the town. If approvals and design proceed on schedule, staff anticipates bidding and construction could begin in 2027.
Council members praised the donors and town staff. Peggy McLeod, chair of the landscape committee, attended and was acknowledged for the committee’s pilot work that helped shape cost and design assumptions. Council discussion noted prior pilot work west of 280 (completed for roughly $165,000, with $93,000 from the community) as the project's genesis and emphasized that final designs will return to the landscape committee and to council for approval.
The council approved a resolution governing the funding agreement and authorized staff to continue design and permitting work. Lead staff said next steps include satisfying the Woodside Community Foundation’s conditions for release of funds, completing engineering and permitting (including coordination with Caltrans and the county), and returning the final design to the council before bidding.
What happens next: staff will pursue the engineered design and Caltrans encroachment permitting, coordinate with the county for portions of median the town does not control, and return the final design to the landscape committee and council for final approval before contract bidding.
