Ever since Palo Alto lifted the infamous "residents only" policy at Foothills Park late last year, some locals have complained that the daily crowds have become overwhelming.
"Prior to the park being opened I regularly saw turkeys and deer pretty much on every visit, but since the crowds have come in I haven’t seen a single one," said resident Hamilton Hitchings during a recent City Council meeting. "Almost every parking spot in the park was full, there were people everywhere, the capacity was excessive for a nature preserve."
Expanding access to the park in December was celebrated as a win by civil rights advocates, who had long argued the residents only policy was discriminatory.
But the city is now responding to residents’ growing concerns with new restrictions.
The Palo Alto City Council has decided to impose a new capacity limit and charge a $6 entrance fee.
While the park will remain open to non-residents, critics say the new restrictions are too much of a barrier.
"Entrance fees are by very definition going to discriminate against lower income people," said Rebecca Eisenberg, who was critical of the new policy. "Already people of color, communities of color have a lot less access to the natural environment and an entrance fee just furthers that."
The council has also renamed the park the Foothills Nature Preserve.
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