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Letter: Helping Bayfront Park

On Sept. 25, park lovers will enjoy a morning working on the shores of San Francisco Bay as everyone pitches in to clean up Bedwell Bayfront Park (9 a.m. to noon).

Sept. 25 is International Coastal Cleanup Day, and our local bayfront shoreline will also benefit from this global effort to improve our planet's marine environment. If you want to enjoy a heart-warming morning working with good people, contact our local coordinator, Davena Gentry, at (650) 814-3412.

Menlo Park's Bayfront Park also is scheduled to benefit financially from the city's development agreement to build the Menlo Gateway project, which includes a new hotel, health club, and three office buildings on 16 acres east of Highway 101. On the November ballot is Measure T which, if passed, will provide over $600,000 in improvements to our Bayfront Park.

Environmental leaders are supporting the Menlo Gateway proposal because it will be a model for green, sustainable development. Our city's Environmental Quality Commission has endorsed it because the project will include LEED-certified energy-frugal buildings, low greenhouse gas emissions (100 percent offset by purchasing carbon-offsets), and an estimated 15 to 20 percent trip-reduction (carpooling, Caltrain and bikes).

Some nay-sayers aren't satisfied that our city budget will receive $1.6 million annually, $14 million in one-time fees (for affordable housing, etc.), and $1.8 million annually for area schools from Menlo Gateway. Yet the project passed Planning Commission review and is endorsed by the City Council. It's an environmental home-run and deserves our support.

Clem Molony, Menalto Avenue, Menlo Park