Picnic Reservations

Reservations are available Monday - Friday only with no weekend reservations or weekend alcohol use. Groups picnic areas are available on a first come first serve basis during the weekends.

 

Picnic reservations are only required at Mitchell Park, Rinconada Park, and the Oak Grove group site at Foothills Nature Preserve. All other picnic sites in parks in Palo Alto (including those at Foothills Nature Preserve, are first-come, first-served).

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Group Picnic Reservation Information

  • Group picnic areas are available at Rinconada, Mitchell, and Foothills Nature Preserve. For Rinconada and Mitchell Park, group reservations may be made by Palo Alto residents, organizations, and companies up to six months in advance.
Picnic Site  Fee  Amenities  Location 
 Pine Grove

 

  $142 Includes 10 barbecues and accommodates up to 110 people  Mitchell Park
 Redwood

 

  $114  Includes 6 barbecues and accommodates up to 90 people  Mitchell Park
 East Meadow $78 Includes 5 barbecues and accommodates up to 60 people  Mitchell Park
 Arbor $50 Includes 4 barbecues and accommodates up to 40 people  Mitchell Park
 Sequoia $63  Includes 5 barbecues and accommodates up to 50 people  Rinconada Park
Oak Grove at Foothills Nature Preserve   Please see Foothills Nature Preserve Reservation Packet Foothills Nature Preserve

Individual Picnic Reservation Information

  • Individual tables are currently only available on a first come, first serve basis. We are hoping to reserve individual tables at Mitchell Park and Rinconada Park soon.

Resident Non-Resident
$29 per table, max of 2 tables $34 per table, max of 2 tables

Oak Grove Picnic Area (Foothills Nature Preserve)

  • To reserve the Oak Grove area, please fill out the reservation packet(PDF, 613KB). The Oak Grove picnic area is yours to use for the day. The park is open from 8:00 a.m. and closes at a specific time based on sunset. For specific closing hours, please see our open-hours schedule. Event cleanup must be finished one-half hour before park closing. All members of your party, including guests, caterers, musicians, etc., must exit the park before park closing. Equipment may not be left overnight either before or after your event.
  • Please submit a guest list(PDF, 75KB) to the park one (1) week in advance of your event. The guest list must list all guests expected to attend, children included. The number of guests in Oak Grove cannot exceed 150 persons, children included.
  • Oak Grove cancellations must be made in writing and received 2 weeks before the event. A cancellation fee (1/3 of total charges) is non-refundable unless the City cancels the permit, wherein a full refund will be made. No refund is given if cancellation is less than two weeks. For more information on Oak Grove, please contact Foothill Nature Preserve at (650) 329-2423.

     

Alcohol Policy

  • Alcohol may only be served at group picnic sites and insurance certificate must b
  • If you plan on serving alcohol, a $1,000,000 insurance certificate must be submitted at least 5 business days prior to the date of your picnic. Only beer, wine or champagne may be consumed, hard liquor is prohibited.
  • All insurance certificates requested from the City will now be processed online at: http://www.eventinsure.com/. Everything can submitted directly to HUB. Please be sure to name the City of Palo Alto as additionally insured. Insurance certificates must be submitted at least 5 business days prior to the date of your picnic.
  • Please be sure to submit a completed Alcohol Use Permit(PDF, 105KB) with your application.

Cancellation Policy

  • Cancellations for Mitchell Park and Rinconada Park group reservations must be made in writing and received at least 5 business days prior to your reservation date in order to receive a refund. There will be a $15 processing fee charged for all canceled group site reservations.
  • Oak Grove cancellations must be made in writing and received 2 weeks before the event. A cancellation fee (1/2 of total charges) is non-refundable unless the City cancels the permit, wherein a full refund will be made. No refund is given if cancellation is less than two weeks. For more information on Oak Grove, please contact Foothill Nature Preserve at (650) 329-2423.

Contact Us:

Phone: (650) 463-4949
Fax: (650) 321-5612
csd@cityofpaloalto.org

 

Foothills Nature Preserve:
(650) 329-2423

Reservation Process:

How to Reserve

Application Resources:

Group Picnic Reservation Application(PDF, 1MB)
Individual Picnic Reservation Application(PDF, 968KB)
Foothills Nature Preserve Reservation Packet(PDF, 613KB)
Alcohol Use Permit(PDF, 105KB)

Park Maps:

Mitchell Park Map(PDF, 671KB)
Rinconada Park Map(PDF, 45KB)

Rules and FAQ:

Park Rules(PDF, 489KB)
Picnic FAQ(PDF, 86KB)
Zero Waste Checklist(PDF, 928KB)

Foothills Nature Preserve:

Foothills Nature Preserve Guest List(PDF, 75KB)
Oak Grove Reservation Information(PDF, 154KB)

Related Information

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