Community Voices
Important City Action
Look here and check emails for more information on ways to speak out FORLosAltos.
UPDATE | On Tuesday, Feb 24 the City presented conceptual "designs"–features and drawings for the 'Downtown Park and Parking' project, requesting direction from City Council.
COMMUNITY RESPONDED | An overwhelming community response to Pause the (Downtown)Park and Parking project was recorded as petition signers, letter writers, public commenters, in-person and Zoom participants, neighborhood volunteers, and article writers in local media. Wow!
OUR TAKE | The City failed to "pause and/or redirect the project" or to provide clear direction on next steps for consideration.
>>Our FORLosAltos team is preparing a response and a debrief for Pause the Park supporters, which will first be sent via email to petition signers, volunteers, and subscribers (via subscribe and contact forms) this week. Stay tuned.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | We invite you to read our general blog post titled "Why Preserve Downtown Parking Plazas" by clicking on the link text. And share information and encourage your neighbors to SIGN THE 'PAUSE THE PARK' PETITION
PAUSE
THE
PARK
The City of Los Altos is now spending $2.23 million to design concepts for a 1- to 2-acre "Downtown Park with Parking" on Plaza 1 and Plaza 2, removing accessible parking and our spectacular heritage tree canopy.
The City contracted and hired a construction designer without defining the public benefit, evaluating the site, or acknowledging the existing public value of the downtown parking plazas.
The City is using restricted park funds on a plan that includes parking—stacked or underground parking—that may not be associated with park use.
The City is on track to spend tens of millions of dollars to advance the new downtown park and replacement parking, while diverting priorities away from existing parks and park facilities citywide.
Residents and local business leaders are questioning the park location, the lack of a demonstrated need, the unspecified budget, and the loss of valuable public benefits—with no clear understanding of the project’s economic, traffic, environmental or community impacts.
Construction of this park is part of a broader piecemeal effort by the City to redevelop downtown and urbanize our town.
Tree-lined parking plazas have been designated as "Surplus Land" and "opportunity sites" for high-density housing, a theater/performing arts center, and stacked underground or above-ground parking structures. Removing 1/3 of the Chinese pistache heritage trees or making canopy cut-outs will irreversibly alter the welcoming, shaded, accessible, village-style character of Los Altos and the benefits we all value.
The City currently has projects under development in four of the eight parking plazas, which guarantees reduced parking and extensive tree loss, impacting our beautiful, vibrant town.
Let's be clear: the parking plazas are public lands–and funds for design and construction are public money. The public needs a say!
Voice your support for our downtown parking plazas, accessible parking, and tree canopies, as well as our desirable small-town village vibrancy.
Ask City Council to PAUSE THE PARK and reprioritize funds and projects for citywide parks. Urge them to rethink development on our downtown public parking plazas.
WHAT IS HAPPENING?
TAKE A STAND
ON PUBLIC LAND
KEEP OUR TOWN
OPEN, BEAUTIFUL
AND THRIVING
Your voice today.
Your vote tomorrow.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TODAY
THERE'S MUCH TO LOSE
1-2 acres
5 acres
Loss of 4 out of 8 public parking plazas, providing easy parking, beauty and flex use for events
263
parking
spots
576
parking spots
Convenient, accessible
shaded, safe
parking spaces
benefit downtown businesses and visitors
120+
trees &
canopy
up to60
trees &
canopy
Loss of 1/3 of our irreplaceable heritage tree canopy that provides economic, energy-saving, ecological and well-being benefit.
$$ + parking?
underground
$$$$
Loss of shoppers, visitors and vitality is unknown
Millions spent in restricted Park Impact Fees and General Fund dollars
4 out of 8
Parking Plazas replaced:
- Downtown Park with Parking, Plazas 1 & 2
-Underground or
stacked parking garages.
TBD
-High-Density Housing, Plazas 7 & 8
- Theater/Performing Arts Center, Plaza 2
Proposed
'Downtown
Park with Parking'
Plaza 1 & 2
Sign our Support Petition
Dear City and City Council,
TAKE A STAND
FOR PUBLIC LAND
Sign the Pause the Park Petition
Why Act Now?
Residents and local businesses still have time to act.
Let's tell City Council to "Pause the Park" and reset priorities for citywide parks, and to stop the project from advancing designs for construction with irreversible decisions until there is proper review and community buy-in.
Read the FORLosAltos article:
FEBRUARY 24 | 5:00 PM City Council to discuss "Downtown Park with Parking" CD-01030 Design in Development in Public Meeting. Presenting three (3) designs and features for City Council decision.
JANUARY - FEBRUARY | City Council Sets 2026 Calendar Year Priorities and Commission Workplans
Get More
Downtown Park Info
Featured FORLosAltos Article: Why Preserve Downtown Parking Plazas?
YOUR VOICE,
YOUR VOTE
a citizen movement
People are speaking up and asking "Why?"—and many want a vote before the City takes irreversible actions on public land. Local businesses are raising concerns. The City is not prioritizing public lands or public voices, and its planning processes and decision-making seem out of step.
Across the Bay Area, residents and local businesses are organizing to demand voter approval for major public land decisions. Cities like Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Mountain View and San Mateo are acting to ensure the public has a meaningful say in public land decisions.
In Los Altos, public lands include parking plazas, parks, tree-scapes, heritage spaces, and other community-owned assets.
Stay tuned as we advance advocacy, community education and initiatives for Los Altos public lands.
Who is
FORLOSALTOS?
ForLosAltos is a grassroots group to drive positive change in our community through better community priorities, fiscal transparency and real public input related to government decision-making on public lands.
Our first effort is to promote a community voice for the need for better City priorities and planning processes for downtown parking plazas and citywide parks.
Next, are taking steps to explore a broader voter initiative to let residents vote on any irreversible replacement or repurposing of public lands.
We are your friends, neighbors and local businesses who love Los Altos. Join us!
