April 30, 2022

Quote of the week

When the sun came shining, and I was strolling,
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling,
As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting:
This land was made for you and me.

As I went walking I saw a sign there,
And on the sign it said "No Trespassing."
But on the other side it didn't say nothing.
That side was made for you and me.

In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people,
By the relief office I seen my people;
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking
Is this land made for you and me?

Nobody living can ever stop me,
As I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.

–Woody Guthrie

Summer Camps – Registration now open

The City of Menlo Park operates high-quality recreational summer camps filled with activities that promote literacy, social and physical development. Campers are offered a wide variety of activities including arts and crafts, cooking, indoor/outdoor sports, recreational swimming, themed events, weekly field trips and weekly special guests. Each camp session is two weeks, with an exciting theme every session. Space is limited. Visit our website to learn more and to register online. 

Explore the great outdoors in Menlo Park

The City of Menlo Park is home to 16 beautiful and unique public parks. Parks range in size from small neighborhood spaces, to large-scale public parklands, to stunning natural open spaces by the Bay. Check out the newest park, the privately-owned, publicly-accessible Meta Park. Our community's parks feature include picnic areas, sports fields, off-leash dog parks, skate park, walking trails and more. With summer around the corner it’s a great time to explore them all.

Renovations planned for Willow Oaks Park

Willow Oaks Park is located at 490 Willow Road on 2.63 acres next to Silicon Valley International School. It features a playground, tennis and basketball courts, shade trees and an enclosed off-leash dog park. Renovations are in the works for a renovated dog park and playground, new accessible pathways, and a new park restroom facility. Menlo Park is also exploring options to delineate the school-owned playing field next to the park with attractive, permanent low fencing that will have conveniently located gates. This will allow residents to access and enjoy the field. Dogs will continue to be prohibited from the playing field and will continue to use the enclosed dog park.

Various areas of the park will be closed while construction takes place. Public announcements will help keep the community informed about the work as it progresses. At the May 10, 2022, City Council meeting, staff will present the Willow Oaks Park renovation concept plans for consideration. Public comments and participation are welcome and encouraged. The Parks and Recreation Commission previously reviewed the Willow Oaks Park concept plans at its Feb. 23, 2022, meeting.

Suggestion box – How are we doing?

We strive to deliver excellent service to the Menlo Park community. Your feedback helps us learn and improve. Do you have a question, complaint or suggestion? We want to hear from you. Please share your thoughts in our online suggestion box.

Teen Event: This Machine Kills Fascists!

What do creative people do when they experience injustice? Folk music icon Woody Guthrie wrote the song This Land Is Your Land, and had the words “this machine kills fascists” emblazoned upon his guitar. In this virtual event for teens, educators from Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture (MoPOP) explore the “machines” we all can use to make a difference against injustice. Join us virtually, May 5, 2022, at 4 p.m.

Medicare 101

May is Older Americans Month, a month in which we celebrate the lives and contributions of older Americans. This free virtual information is provided by the Health Insurance Counseling & Advocacy Program (HICAP), which offers free, one-on-one Medicare counseling. This session will cover:

• Medicare Parts A, B and D
• Medicare Advantage Plans
• Supplemental Plans
• Other options and considerations 

Join us virtually, Thursday, May 5, 2022, at 12:30 p.m.

Upcoming events

The City of Menlo Park hosts cultural, literary and educational events that reflect our diverse community and are accessible to all. View a complete calendar of upcoming city events.

Storytime – Menlo Park Library
Saturday, April 30, 2022
11:15–11:45 a.m.
Join us at the library for some interactive fun and learning! Storytime promotes the joy of reading and helps to develop early literacy skills.

Storytime – Belle Haven Branch Library
Saturday, April 30, 2022
11:15–11:45 a.m.
Join us at the library for some interactive fun and learning! Storytime promotes the joy of reading and helps to develop early literacy skills.

Melanated Reads: dem, by William Melvin Kelly
Monday, May 2, 2022
6:30–8 p.m.
William Melvin Kelley is known as one of the most important African American novelists of the 20th century. In dem, a New York ad executive’s life is irrevocably changed when his wife gives birth to twins—one black, and one white.

Preschool/Toddler Tuesday: Música can Nathalia / Music with Nathalia
Tuesday, May 3, 2022
10–10:30 a.m.
Children and their families love interacting with Nathalia in this interactive bilingual music class.

Tales Online: Storytime with the Beetlelady
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
10–10:30 a.m.
The Beetlelady is back, with a special kid-friendly buggy story time. Dr. Dole will read buggy stories, sing buggy songs and show some kid-friendly, real-live bugs.

Online Gaming Meetup - Teens
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
4–5 p.m.
Would you like to play a game? Students in Grades 4-12 are welcome, even if you’re a first-timer, or new to our games.

Garden Talk: Growing in Containers and Small Spaces
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
6:30–7:30 p.m.
Even without much space, you can grow vegetables and flowers. Join us, and learn which plants do well in containers and small spaces.

Storytime – Menlo Park Library
Thursday, May 5, 2022
10:15–10:45 a.m.
Join us at the library for some interactive fun and learning! Storytime promotes the joy of reading and helps to develop early literacy skills.

Medicare 101
Thursday, May 5, 2022
12:30–1:30 p.m.
May is Older Americans Month, a month in which we celebrate the lives and contributions of older Americans. Programs like Medicare ensure that older Americans can get health care when they need it the most.

Teen Event: This Machince Kills Fascists!
Thursday, May 5, 2022
4–5 p.m.
Teens, explore the “machines” we all can use to make a difference against injustice. We’ll take a virtual visit to Seattle, where MoPOP educators will help us explore our creativity and concerns.

Storytime – Menlo Park Library
Friday, May 6, 2022
10:15–10:45 a.m.
Join us at the library for some interactive fun and learning! Storytime promotes the joy of reading and helps to develop early literacy skills.

Storytime – Menlo Park Library
Saturday, May 7, 2022
11:15–11:45 a.m.
Join us at the library for some interactive fun and learning! Storytime promotes the joy of reading and helps to develop early literacy skills.

Storytime – Belle Haven Branch Library
Saturday, May 7, 2022
11:15–11:45 a.m.
Join us at the library for some interactive fun and learning! Storytime promotes the joy of reading and helps to develop early literacy skills.

For complete event listings, visit our online events calendar.

Menlo Park uses Simplicity platform to connect with residents in English and Spanish

The City of Menlo Park continues to adopt leading-edge technology to strengthen links with our community via a new communication channel for city announcements, events, road closures and more. The Simplicity app is free and available on iOS and Android. Each resident has the option to adjust notification preferences based on their personal interests. Now, you can read news and announcements from the City of Menlo Park in Spanish…Click to continue

La ciudad de Menlo Park sigue adoptando tecnología de vanguardia para reforzar los vínculos con nuestra comunidad a través de un nuevo canal de comunicación para anuncios de la ciudad, eventos, cierres de calles y más. La aplicación Simplicity es gratuita y está disponible en iOS y Android. Cada residente tiene la opción de ajustar las preferencias de notificación en función de sus intereses personales. Ahora, también puede leer las noticias…Click to continue