[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6522719,"mediaKeyId","5067387-b4050b361af5e3f47f6dc4d9a0937dff","parentId",5067387,"title","Pickleball advocates urge Mitchell Park court conversions, offer funding commitment","audioSeconds",286,"startMs",1124000,"endMs",1410000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5067387-b4050b361af5e3f47f6dc4d9a0937dff&start=1124&end=1410","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5067387-b4050b361af5e3f47f6dc4d9a0937dff/thumbnail_1124000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6522719/Palo-Alto/Santa-Clara-County/California/Pickleball-advocates-urge-Mitchell-Park-court-conversions-offer-funding-commitment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6522719-e4102e11714d58e92c2fd2ffcb7d15f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197851&Signature=RtjFsPjXdf4PlMbkKa49~rZzXSmhu7GJZMUV3raeaiPBCDzxkjMUiWyKutRo9se3zH~pk6TU8A3~YgpvL1t8ACgsdiEfgn8efi2nRrlfN7EzmKKqtAZrWOGez5JbxMI7VNoCuyuBzPFG-g6-ke2~bVodHX5F3Bcrs45Ai14daWCI177OBy~7Kbn17rEZnE~2Zz4eRFDwMwcDi3xSJs5SI2c~dZOYsewjE7PNIsNGjaFEMIjkl5p-1NlZsUx9bR9Z~jTFW5sEuDJ9rmJZ0niB6iRjMWgcna4Rww7UlG7u-Z9bd~sYoH0e-2qSD2AXBNYcbbPL7qRVTBw8vJBkqC4Tmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Palo Alto","date","2025-06-25T06:16:20Z","article","Two speakers representing local pickleball players urged the Parks and Recreation Commission to consider repurposing underused tennis courts at Mitchell Park to meet rapidly rising demand for pickleball play.

Ranji (identified as a Palo Alto resident and founder of a mental-health company, MoodFit) framed pickleball as a substantial community wellness opportunity, arguing the sport promotes social connection and can help address loneliness and mental-health needs. Ranji urged commissioners to “consider the wellness benefit” above common objections such as parking or noise.

David Siegel, president of the Palo Alto Pickleball Club, told commissioners the city currently has roughly 51 tennis courts and only 15 pickleball courts; he described the club as having about 1,500 members at the end of 2024, about 900 of whom are Palo Alto residents. Siegel said converting two underused tennis courts could create up to eight pickleball courts and “support up to 32 times more player games and interactions,” and he said the club and donors have proposed covering conversion costs. Siegel estimated converting tennis courts to pickleball costs about $100,000 and said the club has arranged access to an additional 35 parking spaces from a nearby neighbor during peak times.

Speakers acknowledged concerns that often surface in pickleball debates — noise, parking and impacts to tennis players — and said the club is willing to work with the city on mitigation and scheduling. Neither speaker asked the commission to take immediate action at the meeting; commissioners received the comments during the public-comment portion of the agenda.

No formal agenda item, motion or staff recommendation on court conversions was taken at the meeting. Commissioners did not vote on a policy change; staff and commissioners discussed that planning for court use and balancing different recreation needs would be part of longer-term turf, facilities and court-reservation updates coming to the commission.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting - June 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Two members of the local pickleball community urged the Parks and Recreation Commission during public comment to convert underused tennis courts at Mitchell Park into additional pickleball courts, arguing the change would boost community wellness and offering donor funding and temporary parking solutions.","taxTitle","Palo Alto, Santa Clara County, California","taxId",3867,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6522725,"Parks and Recreation Commission approves 2025 work plan, establishes Cubberley ad hoc; splits vote on park-dedication role",6393,3201000,9594000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5067387-b4050b361af5e3f47f6dc4d9a0937dff&start=3201&end=9594","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5067387-b4050b361af5e3f47f6dc4d9a0937dff/thumbnail_3201000.jpg","/articles/6522725/Palo-Alto/Santa-Clara-County/California/Parks-and-Recreation-Commission-approves-2025-work-plan-establishes-Cubberley-ad-hoc-splits-vote-on-park-dedication-role","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6522725-b545edffaf079963daaadc993daa766b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197851&Signature=gKR7gs8obhUWugrS~2CpxnuwEiXY3JCS893XK3Gksb6~HDaNMX1t6luR1gSNEpmr074WKp~KR03Kj7dq2ebVZcY5CWb2~jCnc7U0utt7od8xkqUIBIjC0MKnka7iRUdJf4~mmCTIBa3jYcsgb4Y10yuoftOQQhfIpC8vE4Cs4e1k-p4CoJXNUH1LJLDAvfVvXlebEfAgZOSBzmYceXbhtxzqvvAZN5t4NND7HejAPnhhq1kmjcMIsCrkyurWem4attdd5UZT-M5kbO3q4nxyygKKlPr0KiuA4K35h0c-u01O7ItxoBL9i3K19NaTaI2UQJP5YP073dPhHXC8MMLDzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Palo Alto Parks and Recreation Commission voted to approve its 2025 calendar work plan and the roster of ad hoc committees and liaisons, creating a new Cubberley ad hoc to guide the Cubberley Community Center master-plan review and related activation work.

Chair Freeman moved the motion to approve the work plan and the ad hoc/liaison assignments as presented; the commission approved the motion in a roll-call vote. The commission later took a separate, split vote on whether to convert the existing Parkland Dedication ad hoc to a liaison role after lengthy discussion about the workload on commissioners and staff. That second motion also passed on a roll-call vote with one commissioner voting no.

Commissioners debated whether a number of ongoing responsibilities — such as park dedication review and the long-standing Baylands conservation plan — should remain as time-limited ad hocs or be assigned to standing liaisons. Vice Chair Greenfield expressed concern that some items have no clear end point and that creating many ad hocs increases staff burdens; other commissioners said ad hocs can be reconstituted or elevated if a specific project arises.

Commissioners also suggested clarifying timelines in the work plan (using consistent fiscal-year and quarter notation) and adjusting “measures of success” to reflect realistic, near-term deliverables rather than ultimate facility construction. Staff agreed to standardize dates and clarify items such as the CIP review schedule, turf-study timing for El Camino Park, and the Cubberley activation steps.

At the meeting, commissioners recorded liaison and ad hoc membership changes across a range of topics including the Baylands comprehensive conservation plan, turf and playing-field studies, the Coverley/Cubberley project, court reservation policy and middle-school athletics. Staff said the finalized ad hoc and liaison assignments would be published following the meeting.

Motion details

- Approve Parks and Recreation Commission 2025 work plan, including creation of a Cubberley ad hoc, and assign commission ad hoc and liaison roles: motion carried (tally reported by clerk: yes 6, no 1).
- Separate roll-call on moving Park Dedication from an ad hoc to a liaison role: motion carried (tally reported by clerk: yes 6, no 1).

The commission chair directed staff to update the document layout and timeline formatting, circulate the revised work plan and publish final ad hoc/liaison memberships.

","After extended discussion about the number and role of ad hoc committees, the Parks and Recreation Commission approved its 2025 work plan and assigned ad hocs/liaisons, including creating a Cubberley ad hoc. Commissioners voted to convert several items to liaison roles; the measure was approved following a split roll call.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6522730,"Palo Alto staff outlines Cubberley master-plan timeline, poll results and near-term activation ideas",1286,10088000,11374000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5067387-b4050b361af5e3f47f6dc4d9a0937dff&start=10088&end=11374","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5067387-b4050b361af5e3f47f6dc4d9a0937dff/thumbnail_10088000.jpg","/articles/6522730/Palo-Alto/Santa-Clara-County/California/Palo-Alto-staff-outlines-Cubberley-master-plan-timeline-poll-results-and-near-term-activation-ideas","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6522730-4e5bc52a8c55506a86a5a0a68c49327e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197851&Signature=JbyQOBYrXRSJoY6WivxiD47BXv4EqXRKIysjGjCs0l0nLKV4hPUBN6LC4ZdFvcDTYqN2ZJoCk~drHVvXFPO8ZhSQ9xJsfVHdP-pL-DgAWvjoQPeStovOtUZk8hFZewredkZUwGONufjRAQ7ESOkXqll4z7ShArIvXITifDDCIOxcaFn5leXNvq1PR4g4ffn7-8tDkj8cnWbuq2xtJUMU36jXNpZTRojl71B4iBo0Ml4OMEDQoQPEzQmKO-cmmGujuiAPtI6ISBdUIe02jg8JQCoQ2omo8BQnYs9r-swzEY4y-17dxwgJBu0wDTa9RJ0gAz6f8QQBjjDvC1FwayBhzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff, project consultants and the Parks and Recreation Commission reviewed progress on the Cubberley Community Center master-plan process, poll results and a draft “strategic activation” approach intended to build public support ahead of a potential November 2026 funding measure.

Assistant Director Amanda Demmel said the master-plan process will proceed through summer review with the Planning & Transportation Commission (July 9) and the Architectural Review Board (July 17), a third community meeting in September and a city-council presentation in December. Concordia — the consultant facilitating the master plan — will return a single refined concept to the community before the council considers a master-plan recommendation.

The consultant team and staff emphasized why the question matters: existing Cubberley buildings were built between 1945 and 1968 and a 2022 facilities assessment found most buildings are approaching end of useful life. Christine Perras, assistant director for administrative services, said the master plan will be used to prepare cost estimates and phasing for council consideration and for later CEQA review.

Concordia presented three conceptual layouts — described in the materials as “diagonal,” “grid” and “linear” — that vary building arrangement, pedestrian and bicycle circulation, and the configuration of green space and parking. Staff noted that all three concepts increase both indoor and outdoor area compared with the current site: outdoor space shown in the concepts rises from about 250,000 to roughly 335,000 square feet, indoor area from about 184,000 to 280,000 square feet, and parking area in the concepts rises from about 121,000 to 210,000 square feet.

The project team also reported findings from a poll of 437 Palo Alto registered voters conducted April 28–May 7 by FM3. The poll found the topics that most moved respondents were (1) efficient use and accountability for taxpayer dollars, (2) basic building repairs and safety upgrades — electrical, plumbing and seismic improvements — and (3) retaining or increasing green space on site. Polling showed a majority of likely voters willing to pay up to $250 per household per year for a project framed around those priorities, while larger dollar amounts (for example $500/year) did not reach the two-thirds support usually required for a parcel tax or general-obligation bond. Perras said the city plans two more polls: a second (fall 2025) that will test refined concepts and phased funding scenarios and a third (spring 2026) that will test actual ballot language.

Staff also described a draft strategic activation plan intended to bring people to Cubberley while the master plan proceeds. Ideas discussed included temporary events, pop-up programming, art installations and smaller physical enhancements to increase community awareness. The draft plan is phased to align with master planning, community engagement and polling, and an anticipated ballot campaign. Staff asked the commission for feedback on activation ideas and whether the commission would like to play a role supporting activations.

Next formal milestones are the Planning & Transportation Commission review on July 9, the Architectural Review Board on July 17, a community meeting in September and a council briefing in December. If a funding measure is placed on the ballot and passes, staff said detailed design and CEQA would follow; final adoption of a master plan is expected to align with that follow-up work.

The commission discussed the concepts and the polling results and urged staff and consultants to make clear on public materials the difference between “green space” (landscaped, tree‑canopied areas) and “outdoor activity space” (courts, fields, hard surfaces) because respondents interpreted those terms differently. Commissioners also asked staff to clarify how school-district-owned playing fields adjacent to Cubberley could affect long-term site planning and whether structured or partially underground parking could support large canopy trees above.

Staff materials and the consultant’s community summary are available on the Cubberley project page on the city website. Staff will return with a refined concept after summer outreach and with the activation plan for council review in August.

","City staff and consultants presented three conceptual site layouts, results from a 437-voter poll showing strongest support for building repairs and green space, and a strategic activation plan to raise public awareness ahead of a likely 2026 ballot measure.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Pickleball advocates urge Mitchell Park court conversions, offer funding commitment

Parks and Recreation Commission approves 2025 work plan, establishes Cubberley ad hoc; splits vote on park-dedication role

Palo Alto staff outlines Cubberley master-plan timeline, poll results and near-term activation ideas