Study and Assessment of
Palo Alto Turf Systems
City Council
January 12, 2026 www.PaloAlto.gov
BACKGROUND
Community Services manages four synthetic fields at three locations • El Camino Park (1)
• Stanford Palo Alto Community Playing Fields (Mayfield) (2) • Cubberley (1)
Turf replacement projects
• El Camino – Design - 2024/Construction – FY26 (Construction Deferred) • Mayfield – Design/Construction (Completed: Dec 2025)
• Cubberley – 2028
Council directed staff to pause El Camino Park Turf Replacement Project and redirected project funding for a turf study.
2 TURF STUDY
Study objectives
• Evaluate turf for athletic fields
• Focus on environmental and health considerations, cost, and usability
• Adjusted scope to incorporate the SCC Public Health
Report released 1/28/25
• Case Study: El Camino Park
Combination of staff and consultant expertise provides a balanced approach of local knowledge and comprehensive
analysis.
Overall, the study will provide support for data-driven decision- making for future athletic field replacements.
3 TURF STUDY PROJECT CALENDAR
June 2025: Project Launch
July 2025: Focus Groups with Park and Recreation Commission Playing Field Ad Hoc, Field Users, and Sierra Club August 13, 2025: Draft Report Released
August 13 – September 3, 2025: Community Engagement Comment Period on Draft Report August 26, 2025: Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting (Item was not discussed, too late in the evening) September 23, 2025: Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting October 28, 2025: Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting November 17, 2025: Report and Presentation to City Council November 24 & December 9, 2025: Ad Hoc Committee Meetings = completed
4 BACKGROUND – Turf Study
5 RISK MITIGATION MEASURES - Filters
Traffic Garden
Example
Parks and Watershed Protection/Storm Drain work groups met at the following locations to evaluate the need for storm drain filters.
Mayfield: Completed
• Drainage is subsurface, no open drains to add filters El Camino: Ordered
• 13 inlet hat filters
• 3 exterior socks
Cubberley: TBD
Filters in place, evaluating additional filters
6 PLAYABLILTY IMPACTSAT EL CAMINO PARK
Traffic Garden
Example
System Constraints
No available capacity at other fields to absorb El Camino use Seasonal closures: December-March for weather & maintenance Users Affected (Annual)
Youth: ~733 players | ~412 Palo Alto residents
Adults: ~488 players | ~158 Palo Alto residents
Total Impact:
~1,221 players
~570 residents
Key Takeaway
Removing the El Camino synthetic turf would displace approximately 1,221 players per year, including about 570 Palo Alto residents*with no available capacity at other fields to absorb that use. *based on current use and winter closure
7 RECOMMENDATION
Traffic Garden
Example
The City Council Ad Hoc Committee recommends that City Council direct staff to:
1. Proceed with replacing the existing synthetic turf at El Camino Park with improved synthetic turf using organic infill and to implement risk management measures, including stormwater filtration, enhanced maintenance practices, and related mitigation measures; and
2. Pursue a natural grass pilot project to enhance playability and durability; and
3. Continue to explore opportunities to transition from synthetic turf at Cubberley. 8 SARAH ROBUSTELLI
Division Manager Open Space, Parks, and Golf
[email protected]
(650) 617-3518
ANTHONY STEVENSON, PE
Principal at Lloyd Consulting Group
[email protected]