We've received many questions about the design concepts and next steps. You can find answers to these below. Key takeaways:
- No final decisions have been made. The City Council will decide later this year after more public input.
- The park is not being converted to a single-sport facility. All concepts include flexible, multi-use fields.
- Field lighting, cricket, tennis, and fencing are still under consideration – not approved.
- Your input matters and will help shape the final design.
What type of park is Las Palmas Park?
Las Palmas Park is designated as a Community Park, meaning it is intended to serve residents citywide and include a broader range of amenities than smaller neighborhood parks. The City’s Community Parks include: De Anza Park, Fair Oaks Park, Lakewood Park, Las Palmas Park, Ortega Park, Ponderosa Park, Raynor Park, Serra Park, and Washington Park.
Will the park become a dedicated cricket facility?
No.
None of the design concepts would convert Las Palmas Park into a single-sport facility. All proposed fields are flexible, multi-use, supporting activities including but not limited to soccer, softball, volleyball, and cricket.
Will the field be open to the public or by reservation only?
The field will be open to the public. Reservations are only required if a group wants exclusive use of the space. If there is no reservation, the space is open for anyone to use. This system applies to all of our parks with reservable fields.
Is the City installing artificial turf?
No.
None of the concept plans shown for this renovation project have included artificial turf. The field will remain natural grass.
Has the City decided to install field lighting?
No.
Field lighting is included in one concept only and is still under consideration. No decisions have been made.
Will field and tennis court lights be turned on every night until 10 p.m.?
At parks with field lights, the lights are only operational during the time specified for a field reservation. Renters are responsible for turning the lights on and off. The lights shut off automatically when the park closes. Tennis courts outside the Tennis Center do not require reservations and users can turn on the court lights. The lights are on a timer and automatically shut off every hour or when the tennis courts close.
Will there be tall fencing or sports netting?
Not decided.
Where shown, fencing or netting is proposed for safety, particularly near active play areas close to walking paths, playgrounds, and picnic areas. This element is still under evaluation.
Will netting prevent access to the field?
The proposed netting would not be locked and would have multiple openings to enter and exit.
Why are these features being considered at all?
The design concepts reflect community input from multiple sources, including:
- A 2024 citywide parks and athletics survey (nearly 4,000 total responses)
- Community meetings, surveys, and on-site outreach specific to Las Palmas Park
This input identified a need for improved recreation amenities, including flexible, multi-use spaces.
What is the difference between the two design concepts?
Both concepts include:
- Recreation building and restroom improvements
- Upgraded picnic areas
- Renovated sports fields and lawn space
- A smaller pond with more open space and shade
Concept 1 includes:
- Field lighting
- Additional walking paths
- Games and exercise equipment
- Tennis courts (with lights)
- Multi-use field including cricket pitch
Concept 2 includes:
- An additional restroom
- A water play feature
Has the City approved a final design?
No.
The City Council will select a preferred design after additional community input. A public hearing has not yet been scheduled.
Will there be more opportunities for public input?
Yes.
The City is conducting additional outreach this fall and has hired a professional facilitator to support more effective and inclusive community engagement.
What happened at the March 2026 community meeting?
We recognize the meeting did not meet expectations.
- The format and tools (including live polling) were not as effective as intended.
- We heard the concerns raised by attendees.
- We are improving future engagement and allowing more time for input.
Were the live poll results a final vote on the project?
No.
Survey and live poll results are informational only and are not a final decision.
Could people submit multiple responses to the survey or live poll?
There are safeguards to prevent more than one response from an individual.
- OpenGov - This is the tool the City uses for online community surveys. OpenGov uses IP address tracking and cookies to prevent more than one response from an individual. It is not possible to submit one than one response if responding as anonymous (without registering or logging into an account).
- Slido - This is the tool the City's consultant used for the live polling during Community Meeting #3. If someone submits a response and then opens the poll again using the same device or browser, the response can only be edited. Submitting a new response will overwrite the original one.
Do the design concept labels indicate a preferred option?
No.
Labels (letters or numbers) are arbitrary. They do not reflect priority or a recommended design.
What environmental review will be done?
The project is still in the conceptual phase.
Environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act will take place. It will occur after the selection of a preferred design and a final project description.
Will traffic be addressed?
A traffic calming project is in progress for Hyde Park Drive between Rubis and Spinosa drives.
