\u201cThere\u2019s misinformation in the community that this is a dedicated cricket field. It\u2019s not. It\u2019s a multi-use field,\u201d Mayor Larry Klein told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cRight now there\u2019s a baseball diamond there, and what we\u2019re trying to do is create more active, open space so it can be used for soccer, volleyball, softball and cricket. We\u2019re trying to maximize the amount of usable space within the park.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"People](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/IMG_0370-1024x768.jpeg\")
People setting up to play various sports at Las Palmas Park in Sunnyvale on May 1, 2026. Photo by Maryanne Casas-Perez.<\/p>\n
The project doesn\u2019t have a finalized construction budget, according to a city staff report, as officials are still developing cost estimates for multiple design options. The city has approved about $1.1 million for the design and planning work so far.<\/p>\n
While nearby residents see Las Palmas Park as a neighborhood gathering space, the city classifies it as a community park intended to serve a broader population with multi-use amenities.<\/p>\n
The city is considering three redesign options for the park, including plans to create\u00a0pickleball<\/a> or tennis courts and reconfigure existing features, such as the pond and walking paths. Some proposals also include fencing around the sports field and adding lighting for extended use in the evening.<\/p>\n Angie Hinson, who leads the Las Palmas Park Green and Serene group along with Protect Las Palmas Park<\/a>, said the space already supports a wide range of activities without restrictions. Residents have organized around the issue, with about 300 people attending a recent gathering at the park where Klein and District 1 Councilmember Linda Sell spoke to residents who raised concerns about input from people outside the immediate neighborhood.<\/p>\n \u201cThis park is used by everyone for volleyball, soccer, cricket and picnics \u2014 all at the same time,\u201d Hinson told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cIt works because there\u2019s no fencing. Once you add barriers, you change how people use the space.\u201d<\/p>\n Resident Megan Dunn, who visits the park with her child, said she understands the need for more sports space, but worries about how the changes could affect everyday use.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m torn, I know there aren\u2019t many cricket fields, but we love walking across the grass with a stroller, and the park would feel really different if that changed,\u201d Dunn told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight.<\/p>\n Other residents said the proposed changes could significantly limit how many people can use the space at once, shifting the park from an open, shared area to one that could possibly be restricted to one activity at a time if fenced in.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t like it \u2014 it doesn\u2019t appeal to enough people in the community,\u201d Russ Gatsby told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cThe ball field\u2019s been underused, but there are still kids playing softball there. I\u2019d rather see something like a basketball complex that gives more kids an opportunity to play.\u201d<\/p>\n The proposal stems in part from a 2024 city-commissioned outdoor sports assessment<\/a>, which identified growing demand for sports such as cricket<\/a>, pickleball and tennis and recommended exploring a cricket field at Las Palmas Park.<\/p>\n
![\"In-line](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/interactive-321838904008.png\")
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