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Publication Date: Wednesday, April 03, 2002

Keep Bayfront Park as is? Not everyone likes that idea.

By Pam Smith

Almanac Staff Writer

"In Menlo Park, there's not a lot of space available to add athletic fields. About the only space available would be Bayfront Park," said Bob Frankle, commissioner of the local region of the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO).

He said he's not sure what to make of the City Council's recent decision to try to avoid major development of Bayfront Park _ 160 acres of hilly land atop an old landfill at the end of Marsh Road _ and look for other major sources of revenue to keep the park, which has an annual budget of about $445,000, up and running.

"We would be quite disappointed," said Mr. Frankle of the local AYSO, if the council's March 19 discussion implied the city would no longer consider putting one or more new soccer fields at Bayfront Park. Soccer advocates were among those who tossed additional recreational ideas into the arena, to piggyback on discussion of more large-scale, revenue-producing development such as a convention center or golf course.

The council's discussion came on the heels of the recent disqualification of another potential site for playing fields.

The city had proposed purchasing land from St. Patrick's Seminary for fields, but the Rev. Gerald D. Coleman rejected that possibility in a February 22 letter to city officials.

Council members Paul Collacchi and Chuck Kinney said they are still open to putting fields at Bayfront Park.

But Mayor Steve Schmidt said he thinks its location _ at the end of Marsh Road on the busy Bayfront Expressway _ is too difficult for many young players to get to. Councilman Nicholas Jellins said, "I don't see Bayfront Park as being one of our high-priority locations for soccer fields."
'Deplorable condition'

"We're pretty much maxed out between AYSO and the other sport activities that use the fields," said Mr. Frankle, and of "the available fields, most are in deplorable condition and in need of renovation."

Given that the local AYSO has about 1,700 players, mostly residents of Menlo Park and Atherton, "athletic fields are not getting the priority we feel they deserve," he said.

The rutted turf at the Encinal School fields are "really dangerous to play on," he said. Encinal School is in Atherton, and is part of the Menlo Park City School District.

"Sometimes fields that are being used need to be not used for a while," said Mr. Frankle. With more fields, teams could rotate, and turf would have time to recuperate and be maintained, he said.

A $38 million bond measure to fund new and improved recreational and cultural facilities was passed in Menlo Park last November.

On campaign materials, part of the argument in favor of the measure said "renovated and new soccer and little league fields" were among the "highest priority" projects.

If not in Bayfront Park, there are few, if any, other places to put such fields, said Mr. Frankle.

The Parks and Recreation Commission plans to recommend to the council spending some of the first $14 million from the bonds to renovate existing fields, and city officials are trying to find space for new fields, too, said Community Services Director Curtis Brown. "We do understand."

Palo Alto has floated the idea of pooling money with Menlo Park to buy land for more fields, he said.

The city has also proposed to the Veterans Affairs hospital a joint agreement to build a field big enough for adults and children 12 years and older, said Mr. Brown. Tom Harrison, chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission, said that proposal is "in limbo."

A newly constructed field will open for play at Officer Jack W. Lyle Memorial Park, the site of the old Fremont School, in June, said Mr. Brown.

In the Belle Haven neighborhood, a multi-sport field is under construction at Kelly Park. More field space may also be included in renovations of the schoolyards at Belle Haven and Willow Oaks schools.