The Menlo Park City Council will receive an update on the Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan during a study session at their meeting on Monday, August 6 at 6 p.m. City staff and the project consultant Gates Associates will present preliminary findings of the Master Plan and a number of emerging ideas including improving accessibility to parks and recreation facilities, inclusive for all ages and abilities, creating unique and distinctive parks to encouraging use, and maintaining the quality parks and facilities we have currently. 

The Master Plan seeks to update the 1999 Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan, which recommended $63 million in needed improvements for the City’s parks and recreation facilities. Priority projects were established based on input from a community opinion survey in 2001 and recommendations made by the Parks and Recreation Commission. In November 2001, Menlo Park voters approved to issue general obligations bonds, Measure T, phased in over several years totaling $38 million for the renovation and expansion of City parks and recreation facilities. Many of these improvements can be seen today including state of the art facilities such as the Arrillaga Family Gymnasium, Arrillaga Family Gymnastics Center, Kelly Field, Burgess Pool and the renovated Arrillaga Family Recreation Center. 

Community outreach has consisted of public meetings, stakeholder focus groups, intercept activities at community special events and an online survey. To date, we have reached over 2,000 members of the public who have provided input on the plan. The City Council meeting will be held in the City Council Chambers at 701 Laurel St. Members of the public are encouraged to attend the study session and to follow the project on Facebook or visit the project page.