Sign Hill Master Plan, South San Francisco
Outreach Summary – Round Two
Overview
Input received during the second round of public outreach for the Sign Hill Master Plan identified priorities for trail enhancements and other site featuressite amenities.. Outreach was conducted in Summer 2023 via an online survey and an in-person Town Hall event at the City’s Municipal Services Building. These community engagement activities collected input about proposed trail locations and improvements, site furnishings such as seating and signage, and participant demographics.
Most The majority of responses received during Round 2 of community outreach were from adults over age 35 living in the immediate Sign Hill neighborhood or another area of South San Francisco. According to write-in comments on the survey and at the in-person Town Hall event, many participants were users of Sign Hill familiar with the site’s current trails and natural features.
Overall, the community members surveyed preferred the trail conceptTrail Option 3 which offering offered the most improvements to the site., and Trail Option 3This option was the top choice by a significant margin, collecting 66% of total votes from outreach participants. Participants said they chose Trail Option 3 as their favorite because it offered the largest variety of trails, made the site the most accessible for visitors of different abilities, and created the most opportunities for the community to enjoy Sign Hill. Criticism of Option 3 focused on concerns that the higher number of additional trails featured in this concept would interfere with the natural habitats, bringing more foot traffic to the site along with more risk of damage to protected areas. There was also some concern that the expanded trail system would increase both congestion at the site and disturbance to the neighborhood.
Trail Option 2 followed in second place with 17% of votes, and Trail Option 1 received the least amount of support with only 7% of votes. While Trail Option 1 was praised for offering minimal changes which included making trails easier to access while preserving natural habitats, some participants felt the concept lacked sufficient improvements to serve the community’s needs for the future. Some respondents viewed Trail Option 2 as an amenable approach offering beneficial trail enhancements without making significant changes to the site, but the public was divided on the addition of stairs. Ten percent of participants said that they did not like any of the three trail options presented, and some voiced the opinion that Sign Hill should be left as-is.
All outreach participants had an opportunity to provide feedback about each trail option and identify aspects they liked the most and the least, i.e., pros and cons. Participants were also asked to select preferences for seating and signage styles and materials. Though community members brought up a wide range of ideas and issues for the Sign Hill Master Plan to consider, the feedback collected generally focused on three main themes: nature, activity, and access and accessibility.
Sign Hill Master Plan, South San Francisco
KEY LIKES/DISLIKES ABOUT TRAIL CONCEPTS
Trail Option 1 Trail Option 2 Trail Option 3
Most Liked (Pro)
• Minimally disruptive to
the natural habitat
• Good preservation of
open space
• Reduction of grades
• Switchbacks
• More accessible trails,
easier to walk/hike
• Less features, easier to
maintain
• Eucalyptus Trail
Least Liked (Con)
• Not enough improvement
of site accessibility
• Doesn’t add much to site
• Not much variety or
enhancement of features
• Letters trail still too steep
Most Liked (Pro)
• Steps are a great addition
• Combination of stairs and
switchbacks improves
accessibility
• Minimal impact on
natural environment
Least Liked (Con)
• Stairs are not needed
• Stairs are harder to
maintain
• Stairs could be a tripping
hazard
Most Liked (Pro)
• Expanded trail options
allows more exploration
• Trail variety
• Improved access
• Seubert/Iris extension
• Liberty Trail
• Stairs and switcbacks
make trails easier and
safer
Least Liked (Con)
• Too many trails, too
complicated
• Trail configuration too
invasive, will negatively
impact the natural
environment
• Stairs
• Impact on neighborhood
Themes
Nature
Preserving habitat, protecting trail environment, native plants, wood As seen in Round 1 feedback, the natural environment at Sign Hill is of prime importance to the community. Supporters of Trail Option 1 appreciated this concept’s minimal trail adjustments, advocating for a plan that maintained large amounts of open space and protected natural habitats as much as possible. As their overall favorite choice, however, only four outreach participants (7% of the total) selected Trail Option 1. While the bulk of outreach participants favored more robust trail upgrades (as shown in Trail Options 2 and 3), many community members still want to ensure that the potential impact on Sign Hill’s plant and animal species is thoughtfully considered for any improvements being proposed. Native habitat restoration was voted the most desired volunteer engagement program, native plant information was the most desired for interpretive signs, and native animal information was also popular, further illustrating the community’s strong interest in Sign Hill’s unique ecosystem. For seating and signage at the site, natural materials that would integrate with the natural landscape ranked highly. With over 50% of total votes, wood—in the form of either reclaimed wood seating (the top choice) or wood benches—was the most desired type of material for seating at Sign Hill, and wood was also well supported as the material for interpretive signs (50% of votes).
Sign Hill Master Plan, South San Francisco
Activity
Expanded options, more trails to hike, views, picnics, seating The community is interested in pursuing outdoor activities at Sign Hill. Most outreach participants favored concept options that offered new or updated trail configurations. Trail Option 3 received the highest total number of votes (38) during Round 2 outreach, and its robust features—including the new Liberty Trail and other trail extensions—were viewed as attractive enhancements to make Sign Hill more enjoyable for visitors. Survey responses indicated that the community wants more trails to hike and more engaging options to enjoy the site’s scenic views and other natural features. Outreach participants also supported picnic tables, an amenity to encourage activity and experiences, which finished as the second most desired seating type with 19% of total votes.
Access & Accessibility
Stairs, switchbacks, difficulties, reducing grades, trail maintenance, signage Facilitating better access to and within areas of Sign Hill was a priority identified by the community in Round 1 outreach, and feedback received during Round 2 continued to support pursuing such efforts as part of the Master Plan. The community praised all three Trail Options for their features to improve access and accessibility. The reduction of grades and the addition of switchbacks and stairs—all features that would increase trail safety and allow users of varying ages and abilities to experience the site— were frequently mentioned by outreach participants as favorite aspects of the proposed trail options.
However, the stairs featured on the Ridge Trail in Trail Options 2 and 3 were a source of debate among community participants. While some respondents felt the stairs would be a benefit to families or those wanting a faster, more direct route up the trail, others expressed concern that the stairs would be more hazardous than helpful (potential tripping), would be difficult to maintain, and were not essential for regular trail use. Some respondents also suggested that the site could be made more wheelchair accessible, although none of the three plans presented specifically addressed this issue. The community also understands that improving access at Sign Hill means ensuring that the trails are properly maintained and in good condition. When asked about volunteer engagement opportunities, 50% of outreach participants voted for trail maintenance as their most desired choice, making it the second most popular volunteering option. Site signage, both wayfinding and interpretive, is another important and desired feature to enhance access and accessibility at Sign Hill by providing important information for visitors coming to and moving within the site. According to the survey and Town Hall feedback, outreach participants selected native plants and history and/or cultural heritage of the region as the two most preferred topics for interpretive signs. In terms of desired sign style, 62% of participants chose modern, while only 38% chose traditional.
Methods & Results
Online survey
July 12-27, 2023
14 Questions
43 total responses (43 English, 0 Spanish)
Town Hall (in-person)
Wednesday, July 11, 2023
Sign Hill Master Plan, South San Francisco
10 Questions on Input Boards
13 participants
See attached for full outreach results (PDF and Excel formats).