Dear Menlo Park City Council and city manager Murphy,
I am writing to urge you - specifically, the Mayor and the city manager -
to make the topic of operations at the Burgess and Belle Haven pools a
study session item on the August 12, 2025 agenda.
I made a public comment on this matter at the July 8, 2025 meeting. At that
time, I urged you to take a transparent approach to addressing an issue
that is about to impact many in the community, ranging from seniors who are
lap swimmers during midday hours, to toddlers enjoying their first, safe
experiences in the water.
While you’ve been aware of this issue since February, we have now arrived
at the point where the pool operator is forced to reduce hours at Burgess
Pool, once schools are back in session in mid-August. Menlo Park’s public
pools are true assets for our community. Benefits include access to
physical fitness, promoting water safety, and fostering social connections.
To have gotten to this point of reducing hours means that all parties -
including the City - have created a barrier, making it more difficult for
the taxpayers of Menlo Park to access facilities they help pay for.
Please make aquatics an agenda topic on August 12, so that you can provide
constructive and thoughtful direction to city staff. As long as the pool
operator is incurring losses, there remains the risk of interruption at
Belle Haven Pool and Burgess Pool, starting now with a reduction in hours
at one facility, but potentially escalating into closures at one or both
aquatic centers.
Respectfully submitted,
Sachi Blue-Smith
Resident in District 3, Menlo Park
