Dear Council members,
I would respectfully suggest that we keep outdoor dining on Santa Cruz Avenue and nearby streets, sans car traffic, for restaurants to get maximum "bang for the buck" by taking advantage of outdoor space for dining not only during Covid, but beyond.
Even before Covid it was delightful to have the little "parklets" letting you eat at tables outside, but their expansion is even more appealing. I would suggest a setup like Palo Alto -- big chunks of the street are closed, with a street in the middle that cuts across Santa Cruz for cross traffic, and a street at either end that has cross traffic as well. The more people walk around unimpeded by traffic, the more enjoyable it is, and the more people are drawn to Menlo Park eateries and stores. Let's hope we can attract more than rug stores ,and get more excellent restaurants, wine bars and breweries of all types and price points, drawing people downtown.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Nancy Hosay
Longtime Menlo Park resident
