Palo Alto (Calif.) Municipal GC to Get $7.5M Redesign

The project will move 15 of the course’s 18 holes, create a new levee to contain floodwater from the nearby San Francisquito Creek and make 10.5 acres available for athletic fields.

The City Council approved a $7.5 million redesign of the Palo Alto (Calif.) Municipal Golf Course, Palo Alto Online reported.

The project will move 15 of the course’s 18 holes, create a new levee to contain floodwater from San Francisquito Creek and make 10.5 acres available for three playing fields.

San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority is spearheading the project. The project began as a plan to boost flood protection around the creek, Palo Alto Online reported.

The Powers Authority proposed just building a levee at the course, but the council agreed to significantly expand the city’s recreational facilities. The creek authority will pay $3.2 million for the course redesign and the city will pay $4.3 million, while local costs will come from course revenues spread out over 20 years.

The approved project is significantly more expensive than other options, which would meet objectives while minimally improving the course. Palo Alto Online reported. Councilman Pat Burt said the project is a chance for the city to improve the course, boost flood protection, pursue lucrative design and better integrate the course with its surroundings.

“It’s going to be turned into an exciting course that has a natural habitat and will become integrated with and be part of the Baylands, rather than apart from it  as it is today,” Burt said.

The City Council’s Golf Advisory Committee was put off by the costs it would have to shoulder through paying fees that would support the entire project, including athletic fields, Palo Alto Online reported. Some council members doubted the economic advantages of the plan, while others argued that not following through would be a bigger risk.

“We have an opportunity here to, in effect, create 10 acres of land for $4 million or so,” Councilman Larry Klein said.

Tags: baylands golf advisory committee larry klein Palo Alto Calif. Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course Pat Burt San Francisquito Creek San Francisquito Creek Joint Powers Authority