Las Palmas Park

Asked the city to provide renovation options that don't include a dedicated cricket pitch with fencing or lights around the park, saying parks should serve many uses.

Thanked the mayor and Commissioner Giri, promoted the No on Measure I campaign website, and said the council declined reasonable recommendations on the ballot measures.

The longtime Parks and Recreation commissioner defended himself against accusations that his cricket volunteering biased his commission work, saying he has no financial interest and urging civil disagreement.

Board chairman of the Northern California Cricket Association vouched for Commissioner Giri and criticized the personal attacks, saying disagreement is fine but attacks are not.

A 25-year Sunnyvale resident said cricket supporters support all sports and asked the council to include a cricket pitch in the Las Palmas renovation, denying any fence requirement.

A Las Palmas Green and Serene member praised the mayor, denied her group spreads misinformation, and urged the city not to turn a public park into a private entity.

An eight-year-old resident praised Las Palmas Park as a walkable, well-loved neighborhood park.

Invited council to visit Las Palmas Park and see its quiet, open, multi-use character.

Called Las Palmas the city's Central Park and urged keeping it fence-free and light-free for the environment and inclusion.

Argued equity can't mean protecting one group from fences and lights while shifting impacts elsewhere, and asked the council to measure actual demand rather than count repeated advocacy.

Shared how the park's open space anchored her through postpartum depression and urged keeping it open, with sports facilities directed to the Baylands instead.

Urged the council to appreciate residents' efforts to keep the park as a green belt and to listen to residents when voting.

A 35-year park user and parent urged preserving open, unprogrammed space where kids can freely play.

A retired physician cited public health research showing open green space improves mental, physical, and community health, opposing fixed sports facilities at the park.

Urged the council not to build fences or sports lights at Las Palmas Park, asking instead for restrooms.

40-year resident said she felt disrespected by a process that treated park users' opinions as an afterthought, and pledged to keep attending meetings.

Suggested converting existing tennis courts to pickleball instead of building new courts, and opposed cricket fields, fencing and lighting.

A child speaker asked the council not to change the park where he plays baseball with his brother.

Emotionally described growing up next to the park and now raising her four kids there, asking the council not to change it.

20-year park user asked the council not to turn the park into a specialized sports venue, noting option B received about 41% of survey responses.

First-time speaker cited city survey data showing option B (no cricket field or lighting) was the clear favorite, and questioned who is pushing the cricket field.

Asked unanswered questions about when the Las Palmas Park consultant agreement was signed and who wrote it, accusing the council of lacking transparency.

Representing Las Palmas Green and Serene, he asked why Commissioner Prakash Giri, president of the Northern California Cricket Association, is still participating in cricket facility discussions at Las Palmas Park, and questioned private cricket interests' influence.

Announced she filed a 54-page complaint with the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury over the city's planning process for Las Palmas Park renovations.

A 45-year resident alleged a Parks and Recreation Commissioner's leadership of a cricket organization creates an organizational conflict of interest regarding cricket facilities at Las Palmas Park, and asked for a response to his July 29 email.

Introduced the new Las Palmas Park Neighborhood Association, representing roughly 550 homes in North Sunnyvale, born out of the park renovation dispute.

Raised a potential conflict of interest by a Parks and Recreation Commissioner regarding Las Palmas and cricket, and asked the city attorney for an official position.

Opposed tall netting, field lights, and a cricket pitch at Las Palmas Park, questioning where the cricket support came from and citing petitions and yard signs from neighbors.

Delivered a second petition installment with 1,450 signatures plus 94 volleyball players opposing Option 1's fenced field and lights.

42-year resident urged no fencing and no field lighting at Las Palmas Park, calling the park an inclusive community space.

Of Las Palmas Green and Serene, cited General Plan policy CC-11.1 and urged rejection of permanent fencing at the park.

Asked the Council not to transform the park with fences and lighting, saying the open green space is invaluable to her family.

Questioned the validity of the 2024 community survey used for parks needs assessment, arguing flawed data shouldn't guide how millions in park renovation money is spent.

Thanked the council and staff for meeting with the Las Palmas Green and Serene group about the park renovation project.

Urged preserving the open green space, saying fences and lights would reduce park use, harm wildlife, and opposed new artificial turf in Sunnyvale parks.

Presented an AI-generated analysis arguing the park's open meadow should stay unfenced and free, dismissing arguments for a gated sports complex.

A 45-year resident across from the park urged keeping the open space, noting heavy weekend use and suggesting Baylands for organized sports instead.

Said the community opposes the proposal and suggested redirecting survey funds to unhoused services.

Suggested outside political influence was driving the park project and urged the council to do right by residents.

Supported community members' desire to keep the park open with no fencing or lights.

Argued open grass keeps the city cool and called the park Sunnyvale's version of Central Park.

Sunnyvale parent and scout leader asked the council to preserve the open space, noting 40 scouts use the park weekly.

Urged keeping the park open and unfenced, praising its flexible open meadow for many sports and uses.

Alleged the renovation process suffered a collapse of data integrity from unsecured surveys and threatened a civil grand jury complaint.

Spoke for Las Palmas Green and Serene, expressing excitement about collaborating with the city on the park renovation.

Asked the city to clarify whether Las Palmas is a neighborhood or community park and when that designation changed.

Noted the park's designer was Asian American landscape architect Johnson Sue and urged preserving his award-winning design.

Thanked the council for keeping FLOCK license plate readers and opposed a sports complex at Las Palmas.

Said the disfavored concept inexplicably survived and asked the city to reevaluate what the community actually wants.

Neighbor explained why cricket requires fencing and argued it would hurt space efficiency, safety and aesthetics.

40-year park neighbor urged fixing restrooms, paths and shade instead of a sports venue: 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it.'

Lifelong resident and Scout leader asked the city to build cricket pitches elsewhere rather than take away open space.

Spoke as someone who grew up at the park, saying lights and fences would make it exclusive rather than welcoming.

Healthcare worker with Save Las Palmas described how the park sustained him during the pandemic and cited research on green space benefits.

Spoke as a father of 23 years against the fenced cricket field, saying it would end spontaneous play memories for kids.

Shared a personal story of choosing his home because of the park and urged preserving its open green heart.

Presented a Save Las Palmas Park petition with 752 signatures asking the Council to remove Option 1 from consideration.

Opposed the cricket pitch and soccer fields at Las Palmas Park, saying they take too much space for few players in a park-starved city.

Argued flexible open lawns maximize inclusive use per square foot, while cricket is field-dominant.

The lone supportive voice: a cricket-playing father who travels to other cities for his son's games and wants a multiuse field locally.

Asked how the city got here and urged council to harness the community's energy constructively.

Lifelong park user since 1971 asked the city to preserve the park's character and consider Twin Creeks instead.

Said surveys were biased by outside sporting leagues, and asked for resident-only surveys with yes/no questions on fencing and lights.

Presented Facebook posts showing the Northern California Cricket Association urged non-residents to flood the city's park survey, questioning the validity of the results.

Urged the Council to reconsider Option 1, saying fencing off the open field would destroy a rare, inclusive shared space used for pickup sports, picnics, and dog walking.

Asked that voting be limited to residents, that actual field usage data be included, and that survey methodology be transparent.

Read children's quotes opposing the fenced cricket pitch, arguing the open field serves the whole community.

Cited low survey demand for cricket, non-resident poll participation, and a possible conflict of interest.

Opposed the fenced cricket field and lighting option; raised a possible conflict of interest by a Parks and Rec commissioner.

Opposed 15-foot fences at Las Palmas but suggested Baylands Park as a better cricket site.

Urged keeping the open multi-use field and integrating cricket without fencing the whole space.