Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Meta Park, a new 2.2-acre public park, sits between Buildings 21 and 22 at the Meta headquarters (formerly Facebook) in Menlo Park. A bike route through the park and onto a bike bridge will connect city residents more easily to trails along the Bay. Photo by Lloyd Lee.
Meta Park, a new 2.2-acre public park, sits between Buildings 21 and 22 at the Meta headquarters (formerly Facebook) in Menlo Park. A bike route through the park and onto a bike bridge will connect city residents more easily to trails along the Bay. Photo by Lloyd Lee.

Meta, formerly Facebook, opened a 2.2-acre park on Jan. 29, along with a bike and pedestrian bridge that offers a new way for Belle Haven residents to access the Bedwell Bayfront Park and Bay Trail.

The park is open to the public from sunrise to 8 p.m. daily. But those who are making the trek by car may be disappointed to find that Meta Park does not have designated parking lots.

“This park was designed for foot and bike access for the local community,” Meta spokesperson Tracy Clayton said in an email. “We encourage people to walk and bike to enjoy this open space.”

Visitors can access the park via 1 Facebook Way, at the entrance off Chilco Street near the now-closed Fire Station No. 77, Clayton said. They can also get to the park via the bridge. But getting to the park by car poses more of a challenge.

Ada Chen Rekhi, a Menlo Park resident of about 10 years, drove to the park with her husband, 2-year-old toddler and dog before being turned away twice by security guards for trying to enter through Meta’s Buildings 21 and 22. (The park is located between the two buildings.) For Rekhi, the park is about a 10-minute drive from her home.

“I think the closest parking is Bedwell Bayfront Park,” Chen Rekhi said. “But it’s not even clear whether that path is accessible. It’s probably a mile or so in terms of a walk.”

Another option could be to park on Chilco Street and walk through Meta’s campus, but Chen Rekhi said it was yet another inconvenient way to access a 2.2-acre park. She also said it didn’t feel safe to park on such a busy street.

“We were just really disappointed, so we ended up turning around and going to Bedwell Bayfront Park,” she said.

Meta Park, a new 2.2-acre public park, sits between Buildings 21 and 22 at the Meta headquarters (formerly Facebook) in Menlo Park. A bike route through the park and onto a bike bridge will connect city residents more easily to trails along the Bay. Courtesy Meta.
Meta Park, a new 2.2-acre public park, sits between Buildings 21 and 22 at the Meta headquarters (formerly Facebook) in Menlo Park. A bike route through the park and onto a bike bridge will connect city residents more easily to trails along the Bay. Courtesy Meta.

Some parking is available around Belle Haven’s residential neighborhood. For example on Terminal Avenue the entrance is a few minutes away.

When asked about the challenges of getting to the park, Clayton said the space was designed to be accessed by foot or bike. He also said that Meta’s Park is one of several parks in the city that don’t have designated parking lots, such as Hamilton and Karl E. Clark parks.

“We worked extensively with the city on the design and function of the park to ensure it would be enjoyed and accessible by the local community,” Clayton said.

Sean Reinhart, library and community services director of Menlo Park, said that the primary entrance by Chilco Street complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“All of the sidewalk and curb cuts are ADA accessible,” he said. In addition, the park itself is “completely level” and has ADA-accessible walkways. The bridge also has a very “gentle slope” and there are no steps, Reinhart said.

Unlike the park, the 1,026-feet-long bridge is accessible around the clock. Park rules prohibit dogs and other animals, commercial photography and filming, drones and amplified sound.

Meta Park, a new 2.2-acre public park, sits between Buildings 21 and 22 at the Meta headquarters (formerly Facebook) in Menlo Park. A bike route through the park and onto a bike bridge will connect city residents more easily to trails along the Bay. Photo by Lloyd Lee.
Meta Park, a new 2.2-acre public park, sits between Buildings 21 and 22 at the Meta headquarters (formerly Facebook) in Menlo Park. A bike route through the park and onto a bike bridge will connect city residents more easily to trails along the Bay. Photo by Lloyd Lee.

Most Popular

Pilot’s report of ‘erratically’ flying paraglider triggers search at SLAC campusPilot’s report of ‘erratically’ flying paraglider triggers search at SLAC campusJanuary 19, 2026 11:20 am
Menlo Park office building goes for 2025's highest sales priceMenlo Park office building goes for 2025's highest sales priceJanuary 21, 2026 1:09 pm
From mix-and-match sushi roll slices to takeaway omakase boxes, these new Peninsula businesses are redefining what a Japanese restaurant looks likeFrom mix-and-match sushi roll slices to takeaway omakase boxes, these new Peninsula businesses are redefining what a Japanese restaurant looks likeJanuary 21, 2026 12:17 pm

Join the Conversation

2 Comments

  1. Park on Terminal near Chilco, walk the sidewalk for a block across the train tracks. I’ve been walking past there for 2 years as they prepped the park. It’s just a small community park, in any case.

Leave a comment