Quote of the week

"A quilt wraps you in the warmth of those who came before, their hands in every stitch."
― Patricia Polacco, American children’s book author and illustrator

Spring is here – Go outside!

The City of Menlo Park is home to an abundance of beautiful parks and open spaces, including nature preserves, picnic areas, playgrounds, sports parks and everything in between. Get some quality nature time at Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge and the new Flyway Trail at Bedwell Bayfront Park. Drop in and shred with steez at the Skate Park. Give your furry friend some play time at the new Willow Oaks Dog Park, and much more. This summer, go outside and visit them all! See a map and descriptions of all the parks.

Belle Haven Pool – Youth swim teams

Summer is the perfect time for young people to get involved in a swim team. No experience required! The beautiful new Belle Haven Pool hosts a range of programs for local youth of all interests and skill levels. Check out these great swim team opportunities for your child this summer:

• Belle Haven Youth Swim Team focuses on fitness, fun and family! This enrichment program supports your child in academics and life skills. No experience is necessary and tryouts are free. Enjoy convenient practice hours at Belle Haven Pool Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 4–6 p.m. and join a growing community of swimmers. Scholarships are available. Learn more.
• Alto Swim Club offers affordable swim training for all ages. The Minifit group is for swimmers eight and younger who are water safe and looking to develop their skills. The SwimFit (nine-11 years) and Varsity (12 and older) groups are for swimmers who are interested in swimming for fitness or as a cross-training group if they compete in other sports. Scholarships are available! Learn more.
• First Youth Tri Team introduces kids to swimming, biking and running in a fun, supportive environment. The program focuses on developing physical fitness, mental resilience and essential athletic habits. The program emphasizes personal growth, discipline, camaraderie and perseverance. Scholarships are available. Learn more.

Aquatics working group

The Aquatics Working Group provides feedback about the City of Menlo Park's two swim centers, Burgess Pool and Belle Haven Pool. Participants are invited to share their perspective and learn more about our swim centers. The next working group meeting will focus on a financial overview of the aquatic program and proposed updates to aquatic fees. Join us on Tuesday, May 20, from 6–7:30 p.m. at Belle Haven Community Campus, 100 Terminal Ave. Learn more.

We want to hear from you! Library, Recreation and Parks Survey

The City of Menlo Park is studying the community's needs for the City's libraries, recreation and parks. We want to hear from you! Your responses will help inform important decisions about libraries, recreation and parks in Menlo Park. Please tell us what you think!  

Let's do lunch at Menlo Park Senior Center

For active older adults ages 60 and older: Check out the lunch menu at Menlo Park Senior Center. Freshly prepared, nutritionally balanced meals are made with local ingredients and lunch is paired with opportunities for recreational, social, cultural and educational programs, plus opportunities for conversation and fun! The senior center has beautiful indoor and outdoor dining areas. Seniors may donate $2.50 for lunch. Free, reliable transportation service is also available. Lunch is served every Monday–Friday at noon at Menlo Park Senior Center, 100 Terminal Ave. See the menu.

Get your garden on! Free compost giveaway

Spring is here and the flowers are blooming! Give your soil nutrients to create a thriving garden. City of Menlo Park residents may pick up free compost now until supplies last. Appointments are not required. Compost pick-up is self-serve, so please bring your own shovels, gloves and containers to fill. Compost is staged in debris boxes at the Bedwell Bayfront Park entrance, 1600 Marsh Rd. Learn more.

Save the date: Juneteenth celebration (observed)

Celebrate Juneteenth with the City of Menlo Park! Attendees will enjoy cultural entertainment, live music, resource information, food and family activities. Join us on Saturday, June 14, from noon–3 p.m. at Kelly Park, 100 Terminal Ave. Learn more.

Save the date: Activity Guide Summer 2025 

Learning is a lifelong adventure! The City of Menlo Park hosts a wide range of high-quality recreational classes for all ages. City recreation centers host fitness, dance, sports, gymnastics, music, drama, arts, crafts, cooking and much more, all with a welcoming and supportive community spirit. Whether you're a curious newcomer or a seasoned student, there's probably something to pique your interest. Enrollment for Summer 2025 opens on the following dates:

• City of Menlo Park hyperlocal residents – Thursday, May 15
• City of Menlo Park residents – Saturday, May 17
• Unincorporated Menlo Park and non-residents – Wednesday, May 21

Free literary and cultural programs

These free literary and cultural programs received funding support from Friends of Menlo Park Library.

• Create Chinese Brush Art. For ages six-adult. Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and paint with us! Participants will learn basic techniques and cultural understanding while painting flowers and small animals. Join us on Monday, May 12, at 5:30 p.m. at Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave. Learn more.
• Book Discussion: A Manual for Cleaning Women. Join us for a discussion of A Manual for Cleaning Women, which compiles the best work of the legendary short-story writer Lucia Berlin. The discussion will be held on Tuesday, May 13, at 6:30 p.m., online via Zoom. Learn more.
• English Conversation Club. Practice your English with people from all over the world! Meet other English language learners and work with our literacy staff and volunteer tutors. Drop in and join us on Tuesdays at noon at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more.
• Exhibition: Traveling Stitches. View handmade quilts created by men and women who have come to California from all over the world. This exhibit will be on display from May 14–June 24 at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more.
• Global Language Storytime: Korean. Join us for a special storytime featuring stories, songs and movement in Korean. Menlo Park’s Global Language Storytime series features a different language each month. Participate on Thursday, May 15, at 11:15 a.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more.
• Middle Grade Book Group: Drawing Deena. For ages six-12. This month we discuss Drawing Deena by Hena Khan. Join the discussion on Saturday, May 17, at 4:30 p.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more.
• Asian Animal Tales with Roopa Mohan. Listen as Storyteller Roopa Mohan shares Pan-Asian tales of all sorts of animals: clever, sneaky, courageous, surprising and funny! Join us on Sunday, May 18, at 11 a.m. at Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave. Learn more.
• Tea and Tarot. Bring your own deck! Practice your skills reading the tarot and meet like-minded people who can share their tarot experiences. There will be tea and tarot-themed book recommendations, too. Drop by on Sunday, May 18, at 3 p.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more.
• Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book Group. This month we discuss This is How You Lose the Time War. Participate online via Zoom on Monday, May 19, from 6:30–7:45 p.m. Learn more.

Check out more free community programs
The above was just a sample of the many free activities hosted by the City of Menlo Park this week. Check out the community events calendar to see them all!

Half-day closures – Thursday, May 15 

Belle Haven Community Campus will be closed on Thursday, May 15, from 6 a.m.–2 p.m. for battery microgrid testing, with intermittent power outages expected. Please note the following changes in hours:

• Belle Haven Library, Belle Haven Pool, Menlo Park Senior Center and Onetta Harris Community Center will open at 2 p.m.
• Belle Haven Youth Center will operate at normal hours starting at 3 p.m.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to maintain our battery microgrid for environmental sustainability and resiliency goals. Learn more.

City seeks proposals for Park Ranger Services

The City of Menlo Park is seeking a well-qualified contractor to submit proposals for ranger services at City parks. The City of Menlo Park operates 14 parks of varying size and amenities. Amenities at parks vary by park and include, but are not limited to: athletic fields, barbecues, basketball courts, bicycle parking, dog parks, a food concession structure, gazebos, open spaces, parking areas, picnic areas, playgrounds, restrooms, a skate park, tennis and pickleball courts, walking paths, water features and wooded areas. Learn more and submit a proposal.

Apply for the Youth Advisory Committee

Enjoy a great way for teens to get involved, meet other teens and build great experiences. The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) advises the Parks and Recreation Commission and City staff on activities, events and programs to meet the needs of youth and teens in the community. Students enrolling in grades nine–12 and who live within Menlo Park city limits or are attending a Menlo Park high school are invited to apply by Friday, June 13. Learn more.

Suggestion box – How are we doing?

We strive to deliver excellent service to the Menlo Park community. Your feedback helps us learn and improve. Do you have a question, complaint or suggestion? We want to hear from you. Please share your thoughts in our online suggestion box.