Honorable Mayor Mueller and Council Members: Menlo Park is indeed fortunate in having the WORLD'S LARGEST Stone Sculpture. It is officially known as the GREAT SPIRIT PATH. It was created by local artist Susan Dunlap in the 1980's, the sculpture is three-quarter (3/4) of a mile long and consists of 53 separate stone sculptures. Some affectionately call it the Stonehendge of Menlo Park after the world-famous art piece in England. If you haven't seen it, I encourage you to do so. IT'S MAGNIFICANT! It is located in the 160-acre Bedwell-Bayfront Park found at the end of Marsh Road, on the east side of Highway 101. I estimate the value of it to be $8,000,000 considering the weight of each stone combined with the artist effort to create something truly unique. Withg proper advertising, marketing and promotion, the art piece could add to yet one more reason to help put Menlo Park on the map. How well does the City of Menlo Park maintain this priceless piece of art? You decide for your self after a visit. Currently there are tall weeds, broken sign posts, unsafe walking trails, deferred maintenance, missing stones with some stones ready to fall or roll away. Hopefully the City's Bedwell-Bayfront Park MASTER PLAN provides for its restoration. An EIGHT-PAGE BOOKLET is available at three TAKE ONE boxes. These are found a the beginning, middle and end of the trail. Eventually it will be updated, but for now it provides a wealth of information. The wood boxes on a 4 x 4 wood post could use some TLC as well. A few benches to sit and ponder the art piece's significance would also be a helpful enhancement. Folks from REDWOOD CITY, the County of San Mateo and a variety other places that visit Bedwell Bayfront Park tell me how much they value it. It's a jewel, a gem that helps make Menlo Park one of the best cities in America. At one time Menlo Park had a seven (7) member ART COMMISSSON. Perhaps this is something that can be reconsidered in the days ahead. Respectfully, Jim Lewis Received on Wed May 08 2019 - 13:45:11 PDT
