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Sunnyvale neighbors split over stadium lights, cricket pitch and new tennis courts at Las Palmas Park meeting
Summary
At a public meeting on the Las Palmas Park renovation, residents sharply debated two refined concept plans. Supporters emphasized more courts and nighttime access; opponents warned stadium lighting, cricket netting and added courts would change the park’s neighborhood character. Staff will take feedback into a final concept planned for Parks & Recreation Commission review in mid-2026.
Connie Fan, the project manager for the Las Palmas Park renovation, opened the community meeting and said the city and consultant RRM Design Group would present two refined concept plans and run a live survey.
At the center of the meeting was a clash over programing choices. Option one would add a cricket pitch with high protective netting, sports lighting, fitness stations and two tennis courts; option two would omit the cricket pitch and courts and instead add a prefabricated restroom and a water-play feature. Julian Simeoni of RRM Design Group said both options share pond and lawn repairs, ADA improvements, parking re-striping and recreation-building upgrades, and that the team aims to bring a recommended concept to the Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council in mid-2026 with a target park reopening in late 2028.
Many speakers urged the city to prioritize restrooms and preserve the park’s open, neighborhood character. "I am extremely disappointed that…there is none none zero pickleball free pickleball courts in Sunnyvale," said Bianca, urging the city to consider pickleball conversion rather than new tennis courts. Multiple neighbors said stadium-style field lighting and high cricket nets would make the park feel like a sports complex and cause night-time noise and light pollution for adjacent homes. "I am totally against the lights…they will light up people's backyards," said Vicki, a long-time resident.
Supporters of option one said lights and courts would expand access and programming. Nani, a neighbor who said she lives a block from the park, said lights and tennis courts were desirable because they allow winter and evening play: "we can see that the number of people playing the sport…is growing." Presenters noted lighting would extend programming hours and that any operating policy would be set by the city.
Participants also raised technical and safety questions. Susan Hinton presented measured surface temperatures on rubber playground surfacing and urged alternatives after recording 146°F at one rubber surface; Rob asked whether water-play features would use recycled or flow-through water and was told options including UV treatment and maintenance trade-offs are under study. Several speakers raised concerns that a restroom could attract homeless encampments without complementary management plans.
The reliability and representativeness of the live Slido poll became a flashpoint. Staff reported 264 poll responses and said the majority of responses reported zip code 94087; residents challenged the result, noting the poll allowed multiple submissions and could be taken by YouTube viewers. "I don't think this poll is very accurate then if you can take it more than once," an attendee said. City staff said the poll is one input among community comments, emails and staff analysis and that all data will be posted online.
What happens next: the project team will prepare a final concept for the Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council to review in mid-2026. The city recommended submitting further comments by email to the project manager; project materials and the poll export will be posted at sunnyvale.ca.gov (search Las Palmas Park renovation).
