Menlo Park Watch: City breaks ground for skate park Menlo Park Watch: City breaks ground for skate park (September 15, 2004)

A milestone for Menlo Park skateboard fans is planned for Tuesday, September 14: the ground-breaking for the new skate park being built at Burgess Park.

After young skaters implored the city for years to build a park, a concrete facility will be put in as part of sweeping renovations of Burgess. It will be built on the northwest side of Burgess, close to the railroad tracks and Alma Street. Money from state propositions 12 and 30, passed in recent years to fund parks and recreation projects, will pay for the skate park.

The ground-breaking is scheduled for 4 p.m. For more information, call 330-2245.

Council to revisit crossroads plan

After approving a plan to improve the intersection of University Drive and Menlo Avenue in downtown Menlo Park, the City Council may change its mind on Tuesday, September 14.

Called "offset" by transportation engineers, the intersection may confuse motorists and possibly be hazardous because the east and west portions of Menlo Avenue don't line up, meaning that drivers heading south on University Drive come to a stop sign that's set far back.

The council had agreed to put in another stop sign 90 feet farther south on University, closer to the intersection, but now it will reconsider that plan. City staff members say having two "successive closely spaced stop signs" could be less safe because motorists may ignore the first stop sign and drive right through to the second one, according to a memo by transportation manager Jamal Rahimi.

The council meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at 801 Laurel St.

There was an accident at the intersection between two vehicles September 7, and one person complained of pain, police said.

Public meetings to focus on city dog parks

Four public meetings are planned for later this month to allow Menlo Park residents to chime in on several spots proposed as off-leash dog activity areas.

City parks being considered are Stanford Hills, Sharon, Lyle, Nealon, Willow Oaks, Burgess and Kelly parks, said recreation supervisor Dirk Alvarado. These recommendations came from the recent work of a task force of residents and members of the city's Parks and Recreation Commission.

All meetings will start at 7 p.m. The first one is on Monday, September 20, at the Burgess Recreation Center at 700 Alma St., followed by one on Thursday, September 23, at the Onetta Harris Community Center at 100 Terminal Ave.

Subsequent meetings will be held Monday, September 27, at St. Bede's Episcopal Church at 2650 Sand Hill Road and Thursday, September 30, at Little House Activity Center at 800 Middle Ave.

For more information, call Mr. Alvarado at 330-2245.

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