Quote of the week

"Play is our brain's favorite way of learning."

– Diane Ackerman, poet, essayist and naturalist

 

Public Works Open House is today!

The City of Menlo Park Public Works department is hosting an Open House today, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. to showcase their work in the community. Besides meeting City staff and learning more about City projects, the Public Works Open House offers games and activities that are truly unique! 

  • Enjoy a petting zoo.
  • Build a road with edible materials.
  • Bowl with a Backhoe.
  • Get up close to some of our equipment.

This event is being held at Corporation Yard, 333 Burgess Drive. Learn more.

 

 

Lifeguard and CPR/AED certification courses

Burgess Pool hosts Red Cross Lifeguard Certification courses and CPR/AED First Aid Certifications. These courses are designed to train and certify participants to help save lives in the water and on land. For a full list of dates for upcoming certification courses, please visit menloswim.com under the "About" section.

 

 

 

Halloween costume drive

The City of Menlo Park is hosting Costumes for Kindness, a Halloween costume drive for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. Donations of new or gently used costumes for children ages five–11 can be dropped off at either of the following locations until Oct. 17:

  • Arrillaga Family Recreation Center, 700 Alma St.
  • Menlo Park Police Department, 701 Laurel St.

All usable donations will go directly to Belle Haven School students who are in need of a costume. Learn more.

 

 

We've got game(s)!

Teen Media Nights. Watch movies and play video games at the library! Join us for Teen Media nights, where we will either be watching a film or playing video games in the library Teen Zone. Admission is free. Teen Media Nights receives funding support from Friends of the Menlo Park Library.

Teen Tabletop Gaming. Teens in grades six–12 are invited to join us every month for drop-in Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) or other tabletop role-playing games. D&D can increase problem-solving skills, reduce anxiety and depression and help build social connections. Never played before? That's no problem! We've got all the supplies and knowledge you need to jump right in. Admission is free. Join us on Wednesdays, from 4–5 p.m. at Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more.

Video game collection at the Library. Studies have shown that video games can improve manual dexterity, increase the brain's gray matter and improve intellectual and social skills. Also, they are a lot of fun! Menlo Park Library now offers video games for checkout with your library card. Browse our collection of games for Nintendo Switch, PS5 and Xbox Series X. Learn more and browse the full collection.

Play a game of pickleball in Menlo Park. Pickleball is a popular and fast-growing community-building sport that combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong into a lively experience for all ages and abilities. No paddles? No problem. Pickleball paddles and balls are now available for checkout from Menlo Park Library at no charge. Borrow a pickleball set from the Library. Don't know how to play? Learn the rules online and find a court in Menlo Park today!

Drop-in Chess Play. Whether you're a grandmaster or just learning the basics, our friendly and welcoming environment is perfect for all levels. Drop in to play casual games, learn new strategies or simply enjoy the company of fellow chess enthusiasts. Drop-in chess play is for ages five and older and has a $3 drop-in fee. Join us on Thursdays from 6–9 p.m. at the Arrillaga Family Recreation Center, 700 Alma St. Learn more.

 

 

Free literary and cultural programs  

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

  • Sensory-friendly film festival. Join us for a sensory-friendly, Disney princess-themed film festival featuring all the "princess" films, from the 1937 classic, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, to the 2024 feature, Moana 2. Sensory-friendly movies are an experience for all families, designed with special needs in mind. Admission is free and no registration is required. A caregiver or parent must be present with each child. The next movie in our series is The Little Mermaid. Join us on Fridays at 11:30 a.m. at the Menlo Park Library, 800 Alma St. Learn more.
  • English Conversation Club. Meet other English language learners and work with our literacy staff and volunteer tutors. Drop in and join us on Saturday, Sept. 27, from noon–1 p.m. at Belle Haven Library, 100 Alma St. Learn more.
  • Garden Talk: Attracting Wildlife. Join us online to learn about creating natural habitats in gardens of any size! Learn how to attract and support birds, bees and butterflies through simple design ideas and plant selections. Participate online via Zoom on Wednesday, Oct. 1, from 6:30–7:30 p.m. Learn more.
  • Storytime. Join us for 30-minute-long storytimes at the library. Children and their caregivers will enjoy interactive early learning, featuring stories, songs and fun! 
  • Cascada de Flores Celebrates Mexico. Clap, sing and dance along with songs from different regions of Mexico performed by the Cascada de Flores quartet! Participate on Saturday, Oct. 4, from 1–2 p.m. at Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave. Learn more.
  • Rockin' Kids Sing-Along. Rockin' Kids Sing-Along is a musical playgroup specializing in early childhood development. Grab your little ones and come rock along with us on Sunday, Oct. 5, from 11–11:45 a.m. at Belle Haven Library, 100 Terminal Ave. Learn more.
  • Melanated Women Read. Melanated Women Read is a book discussion group by and especially for Black women. This month, we discuss James: A Novel by Percival Everett online via Zoom on Monday, Oct. 6, from 6:30–8 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!

See more free programs