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Our City approved the New 600 Block Public Plaza in July 2025 but six months later still does not have an implementation Plan. ( January 2026 update)
Improving Downtown Vibrancy is a top strategic priority for the Menlo Park City Council in fiscal year 2025-2026.
View City website – 600 Block Public Plaza
Our Prior Recommendation For The New Public Plaza
The 600 Block Public Plaza should be a professionally designed space that includes features that transform this place into a central city landmark and source of community pride! (Note: this is not simply a public works project.)
- A inviting, people-friendly layout
. - A level, durable and stain-proof surface, e.g. stone, artificial deck material, that is easily accessed from both sides of the street.
. - A mix of seating, e.g., picnic, 4-person round tables, suitable for different types of users and uses commercial quality street furniture.
. - Attractive indirect and overhead lighting, not general street lighting.
‘ - A separate designated area for parking bikes.
. - A raised platform for public events, e.g., music, speakers.
. - A new mid-block crosswalk (with stop signs) that allows motorists who use Parking Plaza 1 to conveniently access the public area.
. - An attractive, seat-level wall that physically and visually separates the plaza from either the bike or vehicle lane. The wall can double as seating and low voltage, wall-mounted downlights can illuminate the plaza surface.
. - Removable, 6-inch, diameter metal safety poles at the Curtis Street entrance to the bike parking area.
. - No flowers as these are difficult to maintain; no trees as umbrellas provide sufficient shade.
. - Provide enough attractively housed, trash bins and do not let them overflow.
. - Other potential amenities: (a) soothing water feature, (b) small outdoor speakers (c) soothing music, (d) holiday displays (e) water drinking fountain (f) City Council public notice display.
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Potential Layouts
Potential Trade-offs: Bike Versus Vehicle Lanes
With the bike lane…
- The plaza is 24% larger and 4-feet wider => provides greater capacity and flexibility re: layout design and usage.
- Much less traffic noise for plaza users and outside diners.
- Greater safety for bicyclists on Santa Cruz between Curtis and El Camino (2 blocks)
- 600 block location causes minor inconvenience for eastbound motorists on Santa Cruz but only for two blocks between Curtis and El Camino. They can still fully access El Camino using either Menlo or Oak Grove. Southbound motorists on El Camino can still enter Downtown from El Camino.
The proposed new mid-block crosswalk will improve pedestrian safety because many already conveniently cross the street at the Chase passageway.
