Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District is expected to begin building new restrooms at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve in Portola Valley next week, according to town officials.
Construction will last about four weeks. The parking area and trail access will remain open during the work, but the parking lot will close for a single day. Portable bathrooms are available for public use.
Town officials also recognized that community members have expressed concern about parking issues around Windy Hill, an issue that has become “more acute” this year, according to a town email. Members of the town’s Bicycle, Pedestrian and Traffic Safety (BPTS) Committee regularly patrol Portola, Willowbrook and Alpine roads and leave flyers on cars that have parked illegally or in the shoulder, according to an Aug. 5 email from Town Manager Jeremy Dennis and committee chair Ed Holland. But cars parked on the shoulder cannot be cited unless signs are posted saying it’s illegal to park there.
“The town has limited parking space on Alpine Road at Willowbrook, while on Willowbrook the curb on the southeastern end is painted red,” the email states. “Otherwise, as a public street, parking is allowed on Willowbrook on both sides of the road.”
There are approximately 45 to 50 parking spots in the Windy Hill lot, according to Dennis. The town believes the shelter-in-place orders and limits on travel due to COVID-19 have led to increased visitation at the preserve.
“There are two distinct parking issues: One is related to Portola Road near the main entrance to Windy Hill, the second is primarily on Willowbrook and portions of upper Alpine Road at that entrance point to Windy Hill,” Dennis said. “So the set of potential solutions and conversations for each of those areas looks a little different.”
Dennis added that the town has been in touch with the open space district to discuss potential solutions to the parking issues, and that the BPTS Committee will reach out to more residents to hear their thoughts.
The BPTS Committee is expected to begin discussions on this topic in the fall and asks that anyone with suggestions contact the committee at traffic@portolavalley.net.
Email Julia Brown at jbrown@almanacnews.com
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