Foothills Nature Preserve Improvements Project
- Project typeParks and Open Space
- Project value$692,744
Project Description
Foothills Nature Preserve, approximately 1,400 acres of open space provides a wide variety of outdoor activities to the community. The Preserve was opened to the general public in 2020 which resulted in a significant increase in visitation between 2020 through 2024 and highlighted the need for several infrastructure improvements. Some of the impacts from the increased visitation were visitors walking off trail into sensitive areas, pedestrians sharing narrow preserve roads with vehicles, and inefficient parking and traffic control issues. This project includes safety, access, and infrastructure improvements within the preserve.
Scope of Work
The scope of work includes the following improvements:
- New designated pedestrian pathways along preserve roads connecting entrance, Boronda Lake and Vista Hill and separating pedestrians from vehicles. Pathways will be approximately three to four feet wide and constructed of quarry fines material. The pathways may have gaps where necessary to preserve existing trees.
- Asphalt curb or boulders along the edge of the pedestrian pathways to provide a safety barrier between pedestrians and vehicles as feasible.
- Removal of unnecessary/excess asphalt on western side of Vista Hill.
- Reconfiguration and delineation of existing parking spaces around Boronda Lake and Vista Hill to provide safer and efficient access for vehicles.
- Removal of some parallel gravel parking spaces near Boronda Lake and entrance road to accommodate new pathways and to improve traffic flow and safety.
- New gravel parking lot across Boronda Lake to improve access and to offset the removal of parallel gravel parking spaces in the area.
- An accessible parking stall at existing Boronda Lake parking lot.
- Turn-around zone at existing Boronda Lake parking lot.
- Traffic control features such as speed humps, crosswalks, signage, and striping throughout the preserve where necessary to improve safety.
- New dirt island with asphalt curb at the intersection south of Vista Hill to enforce one way traffic and to guide vehicles to stay on designated route.
- New benches along Vista Hill viewpoint.
- Foothills Nature Preserve Improvements Exhibit
Project Status
Meetings and Input
- Initial Stakeholders Input:
- In March 2021, a group of Foothills Nature Preserve stakeholders established support for adding a new pedestrian pathway adjacent to the preserve road to provide a safe place for visitors, renovating and improving the parking at Vista Hill and Boronda Lake to make it safe and efficient for the increased number of vehicles, and removing roadside parking in areas where the preserve road is too narrow.
- Preliminary Plan Development:
- Funding was added in Fiscal Year 2023 Capital Improvements Project budget for design and construction of the proposed improvements.
- August 14, 2023: Review of preliminary improvement plan with the Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC) Open Space liaisons.
- August 22, 2023: Staff meeting and presentation of the preliminary improvement plans to the Commission.
- Staff Report 8-22-2023 PRC Meeting
- Design Contract Award:
- Preliminary Plan Update and Review:
- June 4, 2025: PRC Open Space liaisons reviewed the updated improvement plan and provided feedback regarding reducing the proposed pathways widths, preserving trees, parking improvements, and prioritizing natural appearance within the preserve.
- Council Discussion regarding Scope and Budget Adjustment:
- September 8, 2025: The City Council referred the project to PRC and directed staff to return with potential reductions in scope and funding as part of the fiscal year 2026 Mid-Year Budget review.
- Reduced Scope Review and Discussion:
- October 7, 2025: PRC Open Space liaisons reviewed the reduced scope of work proposed by staff based on key improvements focused in Boronda Lake and Vista Hills areas.
- October 28, 2025: Staff presented the proposed reduced project scope to the PRC.
- Staff Report and Presentation 10-28-2025 PRC Meeting
- Upcoming Informational Update to PRC:
- April 28, 2026: Staff plans to provide an informational update to the PRC and to seek feedback to proceed with final design and preparation of a Park Improvements Ordinance (PIO)
- Staff Report 4-28-2026 PRC Meeting
Location
11799 Page Mill Rd, Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto, CA 94022 View Map
37.3630227,-122.1720532
11799 Page Mill Rd, Los Altos Hills ,
Palo Alto, CA 94022
11799 Page Mill Rd, Los Altos Hills ,
Palo Alto, CA 94022
Foothills Nature Preserve Improvements Project