Help Us Improve Cubberley

Introduction

Palo Alto’s Cubberley Community Center infrastructure is aging. Investing in our community centers, libraries, parks, and public safety facilities, while maintaining the City’s ability to fund basic services, will help ensure that Palo Alto remains a safe, beautiful, and vibrant place to live, work and raise a family. As basic costs rise, the City is committed to investing in safe, modern and accessible spaces for childcare, classes, and youth and adult recreation. A safe and updated Cubberley space to serve as a “resilience hub” for community members and first responders to gather during emergencies like earthquakes, wildfires, extreme heat, or floods is also a priority.

The City and the School District have reached a tentative agreement to purchase seven acres of property on and around the center for a total of 15 acres to support a reimagined community center and advance school improvements.

The City drafted a conceptual master plan, using past community engagement as a foundation, to reimagine and prioritize a long-term vision for a future community center campus.

Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration Available for Public Comment

The City released the Draft Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for the Cubberley Conceptual Master Plan for a 30-day review period. This Draft (IS/MND) is a required California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) document that assesses potential environmental impacts of the conceptual master plan and identifies measures to reduce these impacts. It is a required document that would allow for the City Council to adopt a long-term plan for the site and enables the City to proceed with near-term improvements. The Draft (IS/MND) is complete and available for public review and comment from March 2 - April 1, 2026. Review the Draft IS/MND analysis to better understand the potential environmental impacts and proposed mitigation measures, and provide public comment to help inform the final environmental determination and City Council decision-making.

Draft Documents

Comments can be mailed, emailed, shared in the form below, or provided orally at a public meeting.

Mail to: Kristen O’Kane, Community Services Division Director

City of Palo Alto
1305 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto, CA 94301

Or emailed to Kristen.O'Kane@paloalto.gov

Click here to view form.

The Conceptual Master Plan and CEQA documents will be presented to the public at the upcoming meetings:

March 11, 2026 - Planning and Transportation Commission and Architectural Review Board Joint Meeting, 6 p.m.
March 24, 2026 - Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting, 7 p.m.
April 20, 2026 - City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m.

Draft Cubberley Conceptual Master Plan

Building on the 2019 Cubberley Concept Plan, the Draft Cubberley Conceptual Master Plan was developed through a robust community engagement process and represents a long-term vision for the campus. This Draft Plan outlines a three-phased approach and is dependent on successful acquisition of seven acres of land from the Palo Alto Unified School District.

The Conceptual Master Plan presents a long-term vision for upgrading the Cubberley Community Center Campus. and CEQA offers the foundational work on this phased approach over time. Planned property acquisition plus a three-phased approach guides the long-term vision for the site, combining new construction and renovation. This phased approach is necessary as funding is secured while limiting disruption to existing programs and services. Funding from multiple sources will be needed to advance each phase of the Conceptual Master Plan, such as a combination of potential funding options which could include development fees, grants, philanthropy, a ballot measure, and community partners.

While the plan provides a distinct layout of the site with specific features, it represents a concept that should be considered adaptable and dynamic as the project phases continue to progress. Each phase could have sub-phases, depending on funding and partner readiness.

Phase One

Could be developed incrementally
Recreation Wellness Center / Gym, in partnership with the Friends of the Recreation and Wellness Center
Theatre and performing arts complex, in partnership with TheatreWorks
Renovation of remaining buildings
Parking and tennis
Education Building

Phase Two *

Visual arts and technology

Phase Three *

Community Services/Rental space/Flexible Space

*These phases could include partial underground parking

Project Description

The City and the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) executed a memorandum of understanding outlining steps where the City will purchase seven acres of the PAUSD-owned Cubberley site for a new community center. Upon securing funding, the City will purchase seven acres from PAUSD (including the area currently developed with permanent buildings) at the price of $65.5 million. PAUSD will use sale proceeds for school improvements throughout the district. Prior to purchasing the land, the City will develop its conceptual plan and community service goals for the community center and PAUSD will develop its school improvement plans.

Additional Background

The PAUSD Board initiated the process in 2023 with a letter inviting the City to make an offer to purchase additional acres at Cubberley. Both parties proceeded by creating Ad Hoc committees. The City’s committee was made up of Council Members Julie Lythcott-Haims (Chair), Pat Burt and Lydia Kou. Their counterparts from the PAUSD Board were Trustees Jennifer DiBrienza (Chair) and Shounak Dharap.

Use of Cubberley Site by City and PAUSD

The City has leased portions of Cubberley from PAUSD since the late 1980s. Currently, there are 23 tenants and 24 artists who sublease space at Cubberley from the City, along with dozens of individual groups who rent or use the theater, pavilion, classrooms, and athletic fields from the City. Combined, these groups provide the community with a range of valued programs that support health and wellness, childcare, education, recreation, and visual and performing arts.

The PAUSD uses their spaces for educational purposes, staff offices and has leases with some tenants that were previously leasing space from the City. The parking lot in the southeast corner of the property houses several portable trailers which function as a temporary site for Hoover Elementary School through the 2024-2025 academic year (unless construction time frames shift).

City Lease Extension with PAUSD

The City and PAUSD entered into a five-year lease continuing current use of the property, including playing fields and parking lots. The City will pay PAUSD $2 million a year as long as PAUSD uses a portion of the property and $2.5 million per year when PAUSD is no longer using the property. The City will assume responsibility for maintenance and associated costs for areas not used by PAUSD.

Conceptual Master Plan

This Conceptual Master Plan is based on the overarching vision that was developed by City Council then revised by the community: Cubberley will be “a vibrant, beloved, and adaptable destination that promotes learning, interconnectivity, joy and wellbeing where all cultures and generations belong.” The planning team centered this vision in discussions on program uses, phasing, circulation and access. As a result, this Conceptual Master Plan increases usable area in all three of the following areas:

More programmable outdoor space for gathering, events and interconnectivity
More indoor space for the City, local organizations and tenants to continue and expand their much-loved affordable and inclusive programming

More parking capacity to support expanded use while reducing its impact on the useable site area.

Project Timeline & Milestones

Feb 18, 2025 – City Council Visioning Session
March 19, 2025 – First Cubberley Master Planning Community Meeting (Vision, Programming & Placemaking)
April 21, 2025 – City Council direction on Poll #1 themes
April 22, 2025 – Presentation to Parks and Recreation Commission
April 28, 2025 –Poll #1 released to Palo Alto community
June 9, 2025 – City Council review of Poll #1 results
June 12, 2025 – Second Cubberley Master Planning Community Meeting (Three Concept Options)
June 19, 2025 – Public Art Commission Meeting
June 24, 2025 – Presentation to Parks and Recreation Commission
July 9, 2025 – Presentation to Planning & Transportation Commission
July 17, 2025 – Presentation to Architectural Review Board
September 17, 2025 – Third Cubberley Master Planning Community Meeting (Program Organization, Circulation, & Greenspace)
September 23, 2025 – Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting
October 20, 2025 – City Council recap of third community meeting
November 7 –17, 2025 – Poll #2 released to Palo Alto community
December 15, 2025 – City Council review Poll #2 results
January 5-12, 2026 – Poll #3 released to Palo Alto community
February 9, 2026 – City Council review Poll #3 results, Approved Letter of Intent from TheatreWorks Silicon Valley

Upcoming Project Milestones

March 11, 2026 - Presentation to Planning & Transportation Commission and Architectural Review Board
March 16-25, 2026 - Poll #4 Released
March 24, 2026 - Presentation to Parks and Recreation Commission
April 20, 2026 – Adopt Master Plan and CEQA
June 2026 – Council approval to place a measure on the November ballot
November 2026 – Election and placement of a ballot measure

Archived Work on Cubberley

Community Engagement
We are deeply grateful to our volunteer Community Fellows for their dedication and support throughout the Cubberley Master Planning process. These individuals played an essential role in outreach and education, helping us connect with residents and ensure meaningful participation in the community meetings.

The success of the community meetings would not have been possible without their energy, commitment, and partnership. We truly appreciate their contributions to shaping the future of the new Community Center.

2019 Cubberley Concept Plan
Cubberley Concept Plan
Appendix A - Cubberley Concept Plan
Appendix B - Cubberley Concept Plan
Appendix C - Cubberley Concept Plan
Needs Assessment
Program Document

October 3, 2024 - News Release
City of Palo Alto and PAUSD Agree on Steps Towards Cubberley Purchase

October 7, 2024 - Council Action
Authorize Execution of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Palo Alto United School District for the Purchase and Lease of Land at 4000 Middlefield Road, Informally Known as the Cubberley Site; CEQA Status – Not a Project

December 2, 2024 - City Council Action
Master Plan for the Cubberley Site: (1) Approval of Professional Services Contract Number C25192924 with Concordia, LLC in an Amount Not to Exceed $631,966 for Development of a Revised Master Plan for the Cubberley Site for a Period of Two Years; (2) Approve Budget Amendments in the General Fund and Cubberley Infrastructure Fund; (3) Approve a Letter of Intent with the Friends of the Palo Alto Recreation Wellness Center; (4) Approve the Workplan for Pursuit of a Local Ballot Measure for the November 2026 General Election to fund the Purchase of Land and Development of a New Community Recreation and Resource Center at the Cubberley Site; CEQA Status - CEQA review will be conducted on the Master Plan.

December 6, 2024 - City Council Consent
Approval of the Second Amendment to Lease Agreement Between Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) and City of Palo Alto for a Portion of the Cubberley Site at 4000 Middlefield Road through December 31, 2029, Not-to-Exceed $2,500,000 in Rent per Year; CEQA Status—Not a Project

December 16, 2024 - City Council Consent
Approval Of Professional Services Contract Number C25193087 With Rincon Consultants in an Amount Not To Exceed 202,322 Dollars for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Review of a Revised Master Plan for the Cubberley Site Over a Period of One Year, and Approval of Budget Amendments in the General Fund and Cubberley Infrastructure Fund

February 18, 2025 - City Council Visioning Session
Minutes, Recording, and Vision Statement Activity
The City Council approved the Vision Statement for the future of the Community Center: A vibrant and beloved destination with activities, amenities, and offerings that promote learning, joy, and wellbeing where all cultures and generations belong.

February 20, 2025 - Blog
5 Ways to Join the Cubberley Conversation

February 24, 2025 - City Council Action Item
Approval of the 2025 City Council Priority Objectives, as well as Committee Objectives and Workplans

March 19, 2025 - Community Meeting #1, Vision, Programming, and Place Making

The first Community Meeting advancing the Master Plan effort was March 19, focusing on the Community Center vision, programming, and place making. Over 120 community members and stakeholders participated in this conversation. Read the meeting recap here.

Meeting 1 Summary
Meeting 1 - Appendix - Data Collection

Cubberley Project, Community Meeting 1 presentation. An introduction of the project consultant team, Concordia. Followed by a brief history of the project and overview of how the project vision statement came to be.

April 21, 2025 - City Council Action Item
Review and Authorize Initiation of Community Poll Number One Themes for the Cubberley Master Plan Project and Receive an Update on the Project Workplan; CEQA Status - the Master Plan will undergo CEQA review.

May 15, 2025 - Blog
Shaping the Future of Cubberley: What We Heard - and What's Next

June 9, 2025 - City Council Study Session
Discuss First Round Polling Results and Feedback from Community and Stakeholder Engagement Activities and Review an Update on the Workplan for the Cubberley Master Plan and Consideration of November 2026 Ballot Measure; CEQA Status - the Mater Plan will undergo CEQA review.

June 12, 2025 - Community Meeting #2 - Three Concepts Presented
The second Community Meeting advancing the Master Plan effort was June 12, presenting three concept designs.

Meeting 2 - Summary Report

At the second Cubberley Community Meeting, Concordia discussed results from the first Cubberley Community Meeting and presented three concept designs to the community for feedback. The June discussion focused on concept designs seeking feedback on the overall layout, relationship of built space vs. outdoor space, and pedestrian/bike traffic flow. The presentation also highlighted what’s next, noting that the September meeting will combine feedback from the three concepts with programming results from the first meeting to inform a single final concept design.

July 16, 2025 - Blog
What We Heard at the Last Community Meeting & What’s Next

September 2025

The City held the third and final community meeting for the Cubberley Community Center Master Plan, facilitated by Concordia. Approximately 150 community members attended and were highly engaged in reviewing the refined concept design.

At the outset, City staff and Concordia recapped the first two community meetings, provided a project overview, and highlighted updates to the concept plan, including indoor and outdoor programming and phasing strategies. The meeting combined and built on the programming ideas and site lay out ideas generated in the first two meetings. Following this presentation, participants engaged in two interactive activities to provide focused feedback.

Meeting 3 - Summary Report

Watch the meeting discussion below.

November 14, 2025 - Blog
Help Improve Cubberley: Meeting Recap & Next Steps

December 15, 2025 - City Council Study Session
Receive an update on the Cubberley project and second polling results, and discuss next steps.

February 9, 2026 - City Council Action Item
Cubberley Project: Receive update on Third Round Polling Results, Approve a Letter of Intent with TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, and Direct Staff on Next Steps

Upcoming Meetings

Planning & Transportation Commission & Architectural Review Board Joint Meeting - March 11
Parks & Recreation Commission - March 24
City Council Meeting - April 20

Location

4000 Middlefield Road, T-2, Palo Alto, CA 94303 View Map

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Contact details

ImproveCubberley@paloalto.gov