June 2024 Newsletter

Willow Oaks Park Ribbon Cutting: June 29th at 10 am

Willow Oaks Park will reopen on June 29th in a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10 am. Construction has taken less than year, but this major renovation represents the culmination of 6 years of effort. It’ll be exciting to see kids enjoying the new play structures and dogs enjoying the new dog park. Please join the mayor, the city council and city staff in celebrating this accomplishment. Key elements of this project include:

• new playground area

• new dog park

• bathroom facility

• resurfacing of the basketball court

• new bike/pedestrian pathway connecting Willow Rd. and Elm St.

• tennis court improvements

The new playground area, new dog park and resurfaced basketball court will open June 29th. Other elements of the projects are scheduled to be completed later this summer. The new bike/pedestrian pathway was completed and reopened last year.

Sunset Magazine campus proposed development

Residents across Menlo Park are understandably concerned about this project given it’s scale and the use of the state’s Builder’s Remedy provision. There has been a lot written about this project in the media, but the city’s web page on this project should serve as the official source of information. There are two additional points of information that I want to take this opportunity to share:

• This proposed development is among the most significant matters before the city government given its extraordinary scale and the novel use of state building provisions. The engagement by the city council and city staff reflects that significance.

• The city has begun processing this application, but that doesn’t remove any of the many options available to the city in responding to this proposal.

Bay Road Improvements

Bay Road is among the most critical arteries in District 2. The portion of Bay Road between Van Buren Road and Ringwood Avenue has been in need of street repairs for many years. After much discussion between Flood Triangle residents and city staff, this project was identified as a capital improvement project in a December staff report. The resurfacing is tentatively scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025.

National Night Out: August 6th

If you’re interested in hosting a National Night Out block party, register at menlopark.gov/nationalnightout. Last year, there were National Night Out parties hosted in both the Willows and Flood Triangle neighborhoods. Cafe Zoe has again agreed to host a National Night Out event. The festivities will include music and a bounce house.

Community Office Hours

It has been more than 2 years since weekly community office hours were kicked off. This opportunity to connect directly has been a key source for both understanding resident issues and sharing information about city council matters. Recent topics of discussion have included:

• Proposed housing development on former Flood School site

• Efforts by the City of East Palo Alto to take over the East Palo Alto Sanitary District

• The city’s capital improvement projects list 

• The Highway 101 offramp landscaping project

Community office hours take place every Saturday from 9am to 10am at Cafe Zoe in the Willows. Additionally, you can also schedule a meeting by emailing [email protected] or calling 650-924-1890.

Upcoming Community Events

• 4th of July celebration and parade 

• Summer concert series starts July 10th