Dear Menlo Park City Council,Having lived in Menlo Park for more than three decades and walking through downtown several times a week, I have closely observed the impact of the 600 Santa Cruz public plaza.It is clear that the current community space gets very little day-to-day use. While the restaurant parklets are a wonderful addition to downtown, dedicating such a large footprint to an underutilized plaza does not justify keeping the eastbound lane closed to traffic.I urge the Council to modify the current design to reopen traffic in both directions. We can easily maintain the majority of the plazas benefits in a smaller, consolidated space alongside the parklets. Reopening two-way traffic will restore historical traffic patterns and improve access for residents and visitors alike.Thank you for considering the feedback of long-term residents as you evaluate downtown infrastructure.Respectfully,Garry Hallee
615 San Mateo Drive
