After opening Foothills Park to the broader public in December, the City Council is preparing to consider new visitor limits, annual passes for entry and a name that underscores the destination s status as a nature preserve.
Palo Alto is permanently barred from limiting access to visitors to Foothills Park on the basis of residency under an injunction that a U.S. district court judge signed off on Monday.
Kristen Zuraek/Special to the Town Crier
Los Altos Hills resident Kristen Zuraek’s horse stares at her as vehicles line Page Mill Road outside her house. Visitors of nearby Foothills Park have been parking haphazardly outside the Palo Alto preserve’s entrance since Jan. 9, the day Palo Alto began restricting vehicle access on weekends and holidays.
Since opened to the general public Dec. 17, Foothills Park has become “like Disneyland,” “Golden Gate Park” and “a tourist trap,” according to participants at last week’s Palo Alto City Council meeting.
“What I saw there is – you know, it’s not supposed to be an amusement park. At least most people don’t think it’s supposed to be an amusement park. It’s inconsistent with being a preserve,” Councilmember Eric Filseth said. “So I think we need to move forward on trying to get this under control.”
After seeing a spike in visits to Foothills Park, the Palo Alto City Council moved on Tuesday to sharply curtail the number of people who can enter the scenic preserve.