WHY A DOWNTOWN PARK?

Why are we constructing a downtown park?

Short answer:
There is no clear, documented reason.

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Explanation:
City Council has asserted that a downtown park would improve business and vibrancy, but no studies support this claim. There has been no resident needs assessment, no economic impact study, and no analysis of parking loss or funding tradeoffs. Many residents and downtown business owners are questioning the value of a new park, the loss of parking, and the diversion of limited park funds from existing neighborhood parks that need improvements.

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LOCATION & LAND USE

Where is the proposed 'downtown park with parking' located?

Short answer:
On Parking Plazas 1 and 2, comprising 1 to 2 acres in the village downtown core

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Explanation:
Plazas 1 and 2—between First and Third Streets—cover roughly 1–2 acres of public land and currently provide 263 shaded, accessible parking spaces under a mature tree canopy. These plazas also serve business deliveries, short-term parking, and flexible public use for art fairs and seasonal events. The site directly impacts the Post Office and businesses along Main and First Streets. 

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Are downtown parking plazas owned by the City, and are they public land?

Short answer:
Yes, the 8 (eight) downtown parking plazas are owned by the City and are public land.

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Explanation:
The downtown parking plazas are public land, and are managed and maintained by the City.  The City may have obligations to downtown businesses to provide some level of service on this land originally established as a business assessment district in the 1950s.  

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Was a downtown park included in the City’s Parks Plan?

Short answer:
No, a downtown park is not in the City's Parks Plan.

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Explanation:
A downtown recreational park was never identified as a need or priority in the City’s Parks Plan adopted in 2012.

 

Was a park on Plazas 1 and 2 included in the 2018 Downtown Vision Plan?

Short answer:
No, a standalone recreational park was not included in the 2018 Downtown Vision Plan.

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Explanation:
The 2018 Downtown Vision Plan did not include a park on Plazas 1 and 2 or any stand-alone recreational park downtown. Instead, it envisioned improved “paseos” on central plazas 4, 5, and 6 to support downtown businesses and restaurant dining. The parklets on Main and State Streets, established after 2020 events, provide new outdoor-dining space that was not envisioned in 2018.

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Isn’t the 2018 Downtown Vision Plan the City’s specific plan for downtown?

Short answer:
No—it is a vision framework, not a comprehensive or specific plan, as was the next step recommendation in the plan. (see Timeline excerpt below)

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Explanation:
The 2018 Downtown Vision Plan was never adopted as a binding master plan and did not undergo environmental review or funding approval. It was intended as a general planning framework. Since 2018, major changes have occurred—including pandemic-era parklets, housing approvals on multiple plazas, and parking losses—yet the plan has not been updated. Any major downtown project should be preceded by updated studies, with needs assessments and community input.

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NEED & PRIORITIES

Is there a reason we shouldn’t build a recreational park downtown?

Short answer:
Yes—there are already many parks nearby, and greater needs elsewhere.

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Explanation:
Five parks—Shoup, Redwood Grove, Lincoln, Village, and Hillview/Civic Center—are all within steps of downtown. Meanwhile, other neighborhoods lack adequate park access, and existing park and park facilities need improvement. Framing the "Downtown Park with Parking" as an “economic development” project lacks evidence, and the City has not explained the purpose of the proposed park or offset parking.

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Who is asking for the downtown park? What is the new parking structure needed for?

Short answer:
The "Downtown Park Space with Parking project" was proposed by City staff and City Council members, NOT requested by the community, downtown businesses, or residents.

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Explanation:
There has been no survey of residents or businesses to determine whether a downtown park is wanted or what its purpose should be. Earlier goals—such as enhancing outdoor dining—have already been met through parklets on Main and State Streets.

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The City's 2018 Vision Plan identified a parking garage - underground or stacked above ground- on Plaza 1 and Plaza 2 where the park is now, possibly to offset loss of parking due to unspecified new construction on other downtown parking plazas.

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Is this about a park or a parking garage?

Short answer:

Unclear.

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City records show the adopted project descriptions for the budget, the RFP and the chosen contractor, Watry Designs, specifically call out underground parking as the primary element of the project.  Below is the cover page of Watry's proposal for this project:

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Summer 2025 community outreach by the City and the contractor highlighted only the park construction and design.​

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FUNDING & COSTS

What is the $2.2 million ($2.5 million) being spent on now?

Short answer:
Designing a park and parking garage concepts (underground or stacked parking) before a quantifiable need study, economic analysis, or community approval.

 

Explanation:
The City signed a $2.3M contract, not to exceed $2.5M, to design a downtown park and replacement parking.  In FY 2024-2025 budget, $500K was authorized this project. In FY 2025-2026 budget an additional $1.7M was added for contract work on conceptual designs to construction-ready plans.

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What is the total projected cost?

Short answer:
We don't know.  No budget framework established with project design.

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Explanation:
When accounting for the park and replacement parking—either underground or above ground—the total cost could exceed $30M. This does not include economic disruption to downtown businesses, environmental losses, or the impacts of multi-year construction.  Also, it is important to understand the funding sources of construction and ongoing maintenance. Public or private funding sources can impact land entitlements on public land.

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How is the City paying for the 'Downtown Park with Parking' design work?

Short answer:
Restricted Park in Lieu and Park Impact Fees Fund.

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Explanation:
Fees are collected from housing developments and are restricted in their use and financial accounting of public dollars. Funds must be used for park or park facility improvements, or new parks in areas that demonstrate need and align geographically with where the funds were collected.

 

Using these funds potentially for a parking garage raises legal and equity concerns and diverts money from existing parks that need upgrades.

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PARKING & TREES

Will this project affect parking?

Short answer:
Yes—significantly and irreversibly.

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Explanation:
Plazas 1 and 2 provide convenient, accessible, shaded public parking.  All of the parking slots are available to visitor and shopper parking for 3-hour time slots; some of the rows share a portion of the parking with employee-permitted spaces.  Removing these plazas will directly impact residents, visitors, deliveries, and businesses. Claims that the parking in Plazas 1 and 2 is “only for employees” are inaccurate.

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What happens to the trees and tree canopy?

Short answer:
Most or all of it would be lost.

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Explanation:
The project would remove a mature grove of heritage Chinese Pistache trees that provide shade, cooling, air-quality benefits, and downtown character. No ecological, energy, or economic analysis of losing this canopy or the trees has been completed. 

 

Removing trees or cut-outs of the beneficial canopy are both environmental and economic losses that are irreversible.  The loss of public benefit and beauty cannot be replaced by single individual trees being planted elsewhere.   The downtown green infrastructure adds real dollars to the community each and every year, and needs to be better understood and planned for.  

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PROCESS & GOVERNANCE

Were traffic, parking, or environmental studies done before selecting this site?

Short answer:
No. 

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Explanation:
The City has not disclosed any traffic, parking, circulation, or environmental studies that justify selecting Plazas 1 and 2 for this project, or the cumulative impact caused by hi-density housing now planned for downtown Parking Plazas 7 and 8.

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Can the City proceed without voter approval?

Short answer:
Unclear.

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Explanation:
FORLosAltos is seeking a legal opinion on the current development process for downtown parking plazas.  That said, as a matter of public policy, whether or not to require a public vote for the use or disposal of public land is ultimately a matter for the community to determine.  

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BOTTOM LINE

The 'Downtown Park with Parking' proposal removes valued public land, parking, and tree canopy; diverts restricted park funds; is advancing without demonstrated need, updated planning, required studies, or community consensus.

 

Residents and local businesses are calling on the City to 'Pause the Project,' update its plans, and address unmet park and park facilities needs across the community.

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Now is the time for residents and local businesses to speak up—ask the City Council to Pause the Park and reset priorities, process, and planning.

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Let's focus on what matters most to Los Altos:

• Quality of life for residents

• A healthy, vibrant downtown business district

• The small-town, village character that defines our community

• Strong, well-served neighborhoods citywide