The hub of Los Altos recreation is found on this six-acre site, where a whirl of classes takes place, including art, dance, music and cooking.
The administrative offices of the Los Altos Recreation Department are housed here, along with the Los Altos Senior Center, Gilbert Smith House, Bus Barn Theater and the Los Altos History Museum. The site also hosts a social hall, meeting space and conference room. The private, non-profit preschool, Children's Corner, can also be found here, as can the League of Women Voters.
The outdoor athletic facilities include a Little League baseball diamond, bocce ball court and a soccer field. Small children will enjoy the train-themed "Whistlestop" playground. These facilities and athletic fields are available for rent for weddings, sporting events or celebrations.
As part of the larger civic center, the Hillview center is adjacent to Los Altos City Hall, the main library, Los Altos Youth Center and the Police Department. One can easily navigate between buildings via walkways and connected parking lots. There is ample free parking in the lot on Hillview Avene, as well as on the street.
McKenzie Park offers two lighted tennis courts as well as a children's play area, which includes a rock climbing wall. The park also features the Pax Nova sculpture by William "Bill" Iaculla. There's also a large, grassy lawn and a picnic area with tables and barbecue pits. Restrooms are available.
Los Altos' first park is a wooded, 3.7-acre gem. It is located just a short drive (or a pleasant walk) from downtown on the other side of the Foothill Expressway. Hidden at the end of a long driveway, the park named after "the father of Los Altos" opens up into a welcoming public space. Shoup Park beckons with its grassy areas and child-friendly spaces. Adobe Creek, which is often dry in the summer, runs along one side, and redwood trees provide enough shade for picnickers and birthday party celebrations.
The Garden House and the Patriot's Corner group picnic area are the two sites available for rental. There are two playgrounds, one for toddlers and one for older kids, including a short zip line for the adventurous. At the far corner is the veteran's memorial, "Liberty's Cradle," by Rebecca Truman. The Park is also home to the Underground, a teen center. The restrooms are cleaned often. The two parking lots, holding more than fifty-five cars combined, often fill on busy weekend days.
Located on the corner of West Edith Avenue and North San Antonio Road, Village Park offers 0.75 acres to relax. Several benches are available along the grassy lawn, making it a perfect spot for a picnic. The park features a sculpture called the Olympic Wannabe's.
Westwind Barn is a community barn located in the Los Altos Hills. This property was completed remodeling at the beginning of 2010 to include a new foundation, a new roof, wheelchair-accessible spaces and new bathrooms. These upgrades make Westwind more energy-efficient with pending LEED certification. Westwind is open to the public each day of the week. It also holds horse shows and various activities for the community. Westwind is also a great spot for hikes, jogs or riding.
Police Chief Tuck Younis heads a force of approximately 42 men and women at LAPD, including 30 sworn officers.
Crime is low, but the department provides services that promotes safety through its outreach and resources on everything from traffic enforcement, municipal code violations or citation write-offs. Residents and organizations can request an officer to speak about crime prevention or assist those who want to set up a Neighborhood Watch program.
Its Web site carries a wealth of information about how to get police reports, look at annual crime statistics, and interpret third-party CrimeReports.com mapping and barking dog complaints.
The Police Department is part of the Civic Center complex on San Antonio Road, past the City Hall and the Los Altos Youth Center.
Nestled in the foothills below Skyline Ridge, Rancho San Antonio covers 165 acres and is one of Santa Clara County's most popular parks.
The park is adjacent to the 2,135-acre Mid-Peninsula Regional Open Space Preserve and connects to Hidden Villa Ranch. The park and preserve is used for hiking, jogging, bicycling and horseback riding. There are more than 23 miles of trails, though bicycles are restricted to the paved trails. Model airplane enthusiasts can use the rough grass areas adjacent to the parking lots.
The North Meadow area has four tennis courts, two handball courts and a small number of picnic tables and grills.
Families and school groups flock to Deer Hollow Farm, operated by the City of Mountain View to teach environmental and agricultural programs.
Purissima Park is home to the Los Altos Hills Parks & Recreation Department and the Los Altos Hills/Los Altos Little League program. It features restrooms, picnic tables and ball fields. The town riding arena is also located here. The riding arena and ball fields are available to reserve for private events.
Rosita Park is home to a number of athletic facilities, including a soccer field, a full-size baseball diamond and a recreation building. The five acres of grassy lawn can also be used to enjoy a relaxing picnic or game of Frisbee.
This well-loved nature preserve sits on nearly six acres just outside the bustle of downtown and the Foothill Expressway. Adobe Creek runs through the property and majestic redwood trees provide a peaceful environment for trailwalking.
The Redwood Grove Nature Center features the Fava Indian Artifact Collection and a boardwalk that allows those unable to traverse uneven terrain to enjoy the surroundings.
In the summer, it's a popular day camp site for preschoolers, an overnight camp for bigger kids, and a training ground for teen camp counselors.
