Council Members,
Thank you for your voluntary leadership. As a 30-year Menlo Park resident, downtown business owner, home owner, commercial downtown landlord, and mother of two seventh graders, I’d like to request that you keep the area in front of Starbucks, etc. as-is.
It is hugely beneficial to so many groups in our city and is the most vibrant part of Menlo Park. The kids love hanging out there and spending money at the local stores and restaurants; I love the vibrant atmosphere and meeting new friends and old there; the restaurants’ outdoor seating is great for those of us who will never recover from the fears of the pandemic and only eat outside; Bon Marché is fun and different; and the area is the hub.
I do not mind at all having to turn right and avoid the one block closure. It’s easily worth it for all the benefits we get.
I’d love to see this and all other augmented spaces made permanent and made even more attractive.
Thank you.
Valerie Frederickson
