Kids dig in, learn how to change community Kids dig in, learn how to change community (November 17, 2004)

Seventeen second- and third-graders from Las Lomitas School joined community activist Leslie Wambach and San Mateo County Supervisor Rich Gordon and other officials Friday to plant the final tree along the new Alameda de las Pulgas streetscape in West Menlo Park.

At the behest of Ms. Wambach, whose daughter Zoe is in the third grade at Las Lomitas, and with the enthusiastic backing of teacher Patrick Hayes, the kids have been learning about the streetscape and how people can effect change in their community.

Ms. Wambach, an architect, came to the school and explained to the kids how she got the idea for the streetscape after dodging traffic along the busy road while pushing a stroller.

The kids re-enacted a community workshop Ms. Wambach helped organize to mobilize support for the streetscape, and practiced writing a persuasive letter.

The streetscape project was capped off last week, when county crews planted 43 London plane trees in pre-dug holes in the new sidewalks along the Alameda, between Ashton and Harkins avenues.

The trees, a variety of Yarwood sycamore, are like those along Santa Cruz Avenue in downtown Menlo Park and were picked because of their ability to mature quickly.

"This is an example of how democracy works," Supervisor Gordon told the kids helping plant the final tree at the corner of the Alameda and Avy Avenue. The trick, he said, was to get people with different views -- from pedestrians who wanted sidewalks to merchants concerned about loss of parking -- to come together on a plan that provided "something for everybody."

The goal of the streetscape project is to make the road "a safer and friendlier place for everybody," said Mr. Gordon.

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