Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].
Palo Alto officials will impose new temporary access restrictions at Foothills Park Nature Preserve starting Saturday, due to an increase in the number of visitors since it opened to the general public last month.
As such, the city will close the park gates temporarily on weekends during peak hours - from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. - as well as on holidays, and is preparing to consider additional measures to limit visitation.
Those measures include charging a parking fee, as well as reducing the number of people who could be in the park at one time, where the current limit is 750, according to an announcement issued by city officials Thursday.
The 1,400-acre preserve, long restricted to visitors, has reached its 750-person limit several times since it officially opened to the general population on Dec. 17.
The busiest time in the park has been between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm on weekends, which creates safety problems and dangers on the road, so a large number of visitors have had to be turned away.
"This temporary measure is to help manage the number of visitors to the park and provide a safe, enjoyable and consistent experience for visitors," the city's announcement stated.
It should be noted that closures and limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic include the closure of the Interpretive Center, canoe rentals, springs, Oak Grove group barbecue sites, and all individual barbecue sites except the Orchard Glen picnic area.
While the trails, restrooms, picnic table area - only one fire pit per site, Orchard Glen barbecues only - and park benches remain open - some with limitations - the trails, restrooms, picnic table area - only one fire pit per site, Orchard Glen barbecues only - and park benches remain open.
The City of Palo Alto urges visitors to respect other visitors and to keep at least 6 feet away from people who do not live in the same house, and to watch out for snakes, ticks and poison oak.
