Foothill Park Improvements – Climate Adaptive Design and Renovation

What & Why?

In October 2019, Foothill Regional Park was the frontline to contain the Kincade Fire. Firefighters utilized the open space to bulldoze fire breaks, lay fire hoses, and administer suppression burns. These efforts kept the fire from burning through adjacent homes. However, 95 percent of the park was burned or damaged, including 4 miles of trails, 8 trail bridges and a 40-foot bridge that provided access to the park’s back country.

The Foothill renovations and improvements focus on “climate adaptive design” to make the park more resilient to future wildfires and offer greater protection to surrounding neighborhoods. The project also includes the construction of additional community amenities in this very popular and heavily utilized regional park.

This project includes:

- replacement of burned park infrastructure with fire-resilient materials, including a 40-foot backcountry bridge, trail bridges and way-finding signs

- park-wide trail renovations

- construction of an outdoor classroom and gathering area at the park entry

- interpretive art component created by local youth

- group picnic area with a shade structure at Pond C

- interpretive signs depicting the 2019 Kincade Fire, the firefighter and community response and the Park’s fire-adaptive ecosystems

- native landscape planting

What’s Next?

Installation of the interpretive signs and public art mosaic is scheduled to begin in spring 2024. 

Minor trail and road improvements are scheduled to begin in spring/summer 2024.

Installation of the Pond C shade structure will occur in the future as funding becomes available.