Renovated Nealon Park reopens Renovated Nealon Park reopens (January 26, 2005)

By Rebecca Wallace

Almanac Staff Writer

Go on, admit it. You've always dreamed of throwing out the first pitch.

Well, if you get to Nealon Park bright and early on Saturday, January 29, you just may have the chance. From 9 to 11 a.m., Menlo Park city officials will be hosting a grand reopening of the park.

Nealon, located on Middle Avenue between University Drive and El Camino Real, just got itself a facelift, including a completely renovated softball field with new lighting, fencing and irrigation systems; new picnic tables and benches; and a new fence around the children's play area.

The five tennis courts also got special treatment, with resurfacing on three of the courts and new lighting in all of them.

"People could only play on two courts at night before," city recreation supervisor Mike Langford said.

The total cost of the project, including design work, city staff time and other expenses, comes to about $1.4 million, supervising engineer Art Morimoto said. The bulk of it was funded through Measure T, the recreation-facilities bond measure approved by city voters in 2001. About $300,000 came from a state parks and recreation grant.

Following speeches by dignitaries at the grand opening, people can get a taste of all the activities in the park. Attendees who hurl a pitch on the new ball field, hit a tennis ball in the court, slide down the playground slide, and turn a cartwheel or do another stunt in the grass will get a prize: a Menlo Park Frisbee.

If it rains on January 29, the event will be moved to February 12. Coffee, hot chocolate and bagels will be on hand to nourish visitors. For more information, call 330-2200.

The city changes the locks on its tennis courts every year, and new keys are available starting this week, Mr. Langford said. The annual cost is $30 for residents and $88 for others. Keys can be purchased at the Burgess Recreation Center at 700 Alma St.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.