Memorial Park Specific Plan

We are entering into the final adoption process for the Memorial Park Specific Plan! The Addendum to the Parks and Recreation System Master Plan (PRSMP) Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) and the final Memorial Park Specific Plan (MPSP) are published. Staff and the project team will bring these to the Parks and Recreation Commission on March 7th, and to City Council on April 3rd.

Once adopted, the next step will be to proceed with design and construction of projects that are described in the MPSP. Phases/sequencing of the projects are outlined in the final report for consideration, but these are informative rather than prescriptive. Depending on available budget and other factors, the first projects can be as large as an entire section of the park or as small as rerouting key pedestrian paths.

*The published documents are linked in the "important documents" widget on the right side of this page. Please note that Attachment D (D - PRSMP_MPSP_Initial Study_Addendum Appendix A) is a duplicate of Attachment A (A - MPSP_report), but for the purposes of the IS/MND-Addendum report submittal/adoption it will be will be Appendix [A] to the IS/MND, and thus is listed in this way.

Incorporating the City Council, Commissions, and community feedback received, the design team has developed the final conceptual plan, as seen below. Memorial Park's existing plan of the park is also available below for your reference. The City hopes to have accomplished a design that accommodates the input received and allows for the future development of magnificent park features and amenities that serve the community. (Comment period closed on September 14).

Next Steps: Finalize the CEQA report and Specific Plan design. The Cupertino City Council and Commissions will have their final reviews in March and April 2024.

June 21, 2023 Council Meeting Results

If you've been following the development of the "Revitalize Memorial Park" project, you know that we've had many meetings, events, surveys, etc. to get the Community's input on the re-design efforts. The latest meeting was a presentation at City Council on June 21, 2023. The Community was there, in great numbers! The Council heard the feedback and directed staff to keep the existing softball field and progress into the final stages of the schematic design phase. The minutes recorded the final motion and suggestions from the Council:

Final Motion:

Wei moved and Chao seconded as amended and modified to proceed with the Memorial Park Specific Plan design process into Schematic Design with the following revisions to the Conceptual Plan:

• Retain the existing softball field;
• Prioritize finding a revised location for pickle ball and basketball court;
• Consider options to reduce the size of the extra parking area on Anton Way; and
• Include native plants and gardens where feasible, especially in the nature walk area, as presented by the Audubon Society.

The amended and modified motion carried unanimously.

Councilmembers also provided the following comments for consideration when contemplating plan revisions:

• Consider installing temporary fence to fully enclose the existing softball field at Memorial Park for a pilot Dog Off-Leash Area (DOLA) program to evaluate the efficacy of a combined Softball/DOLA use for the area. (Moore)
• Provide Softball Field utilization data for use pre-pandemic. (Moore, Chao)
• Consider a small water feature/fountain for birds. (Chao)
• Consider a more economical features for the Specific Plan. (Chao)
• Consider reducing the parking or loop turnaround along the westerly property line if it could facilitate other amenities. (Fruen)
• Consider adopting a maintenance plan for native vegetation. (Fruen)
• Consider a covered area near the Quinlan Community Center. (Moore)
• Consider removing the central event lawn space to minimize the loss of other proposed amenities due to the inclusion of the softball field. (Fruen)
• Consider incorporating a bicycle garden as opposed to a tricycle track. (Fruen)
• Consider reducing the passive garden area to minimize the loss of other proposed amenities due to the inclusion of the softball field. Consider placing native vegetation in other passive areas throughout the park. (Moore)

• March 7, 2024 Thursday: Parks & Recreation Commission (Meetings are held on the first Thursday of the month at 7pm in the Quinlan Community Center, Social Room). Staff will present and review the final Specific Plan for Commission approval. (tentatively scheduled until we get closer to the date)
• April 3, 2024 Wednesday: City Council at 5:15pm in Community Hall). Staff will (1) share the IS/MND Addendum and request adoption of the Addendum (CEQA report), and (2) present and review the final Specific Plan for Council approval. [Item #9]

Other than the upcoming Commission and City Council meetings noted above, no additional meetings are scheduled at this time.