EDITORIAL: Building community, tree by tree EDITORIAL: Building community, tree by tree (May 11, 2005)

The recent events celebrating the Trees for Menlo campaign in downtown Menlo Park and the completion of the Alameda streetscape project in the unincorporated area of West Menlo Park are shining examples of what a community can accomplish if it sets its collective mind to it.

Trees for Menlo is the brainchild of former City Council member Chuck Kinney and several of his acquaintances, who thought the harsh and busy traffic lanes of El Camino Real in Menlo Park could be improved with a procession of stately London plane trees down either side and even on the center median. It was a grand idea, but lesser folks would have immediately discarded it upon hearing worries that each tree would cost $400 or more and that even if the money could be raised to install the trees, the city might balk at providing the needed maintenance.

The naysayers obviously had not met Mr. Kinney, who helped launch the Trees group in 1999, while he was on the City Council. With some startup seed money, and a good plan, Mr. Kinney convinced his City Council collegues to back the project with $500,000 in city funds for Phase 1, the planting that runs from Valparaiso to Oak Grove Avenue. Unfortunately, hard budget times and a change of direction on the council combined to shut off additional city funding, but that has only slowed, not killed, the project.

Now, a good part of Phase 2 (from San Francisquito Creek north to Middle Avenue) is complete, more than enough reason for hundreds of supporters to turn out April 30 to celebrate the installation of a plaque at Menlo Center that carries the names of major donors. The plaque celebrates what is already a living landmark for the community, and when the trees mature, like similar London plane trees on Santa Cruz Avenue, they will make every resident proud to be a member of the community.

On the Alameda, the small shopping area between Avy and Ashton avenues is now decked out with trees, sidewalks and bike lanes that flank the busy thoroughfare that in prior years was taken over much of the day by speeding commuters. After winning a zoning battle over a large office building planned for the area, neighborhood activist Leslie Wambach organized a petition drive with the goal of making the area more inviting to shoppers, pedestrians and cyclists.

Many area residents pitched in and attended meetings to help plan the project. Some merchants balked but county Supervisor Rich Gordon was able to convince his colleagues to back a new zoning ordinance for the area. A vote by neighborhood residents and merchants approved an assessment district to maintain the young trees that were planted last November.

On April 30 a few hundred residents gathered in a parking lot to celebrate the completion of the project and to enjoy food and other goodies laid out by participating merchants. The event organizers promised that it won't be the last time a call would go out for people in the neighborhood to get to know each other as they enjoy refreshments and events along the Alameda.

Both of these projects had to overcome significant stumbling blocks before they gained support. Somehow, the second thoughts were put aside, the doubts were put to rest, and when the trees stretch to their full height, we all will applaud the forward-looking visionaries who wanted something better and went out and got it done.

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