Members of the Menlo Park City Council,

 

Bayfront Park is a special place to me where we have a wildlife habitat and a serene open area where people can go to relax, get exercise, and enjoy an undeveloped place that's near enough to our busy lives that many people go there every day.  It has been one of our favorite and cherished places for years.  Our 2nd grade class at Peninsula School where I work goes there every spring.  Even from the air, it stands out as a large natural area along the coast of the bay.

 

A golf course is the very antithesis of we cherish there.  It's groomed grass areas are a very unecological use of land involving grading, lots of fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, and water, mechanical maintanence, etc.  Shops would bring an additional commercial ambiance if they are included, the opposite of the natural environment.  Much wildlife would be eliminated.  Likely, fertilizer and pesticide residue would make its way to the bay water.  In addition, use of the park for a golf course would change that area from public access to private which would prevent many people from use of park area their taxes pay for.

 

I realize that Menlo Park is facing a severe budget crunch.  As I understand it, the maintanence costs of Bayfront Park are already covered by sanitation fees.  I believe other budgetary needs should be covered in some other way than taking over special public open space which would then be lost to us and future generations of Menlo Park residents.  The Bay Area is becoming increasingly crowded making the open space areas critical areas to preserve.

 

Finally, it has been startling to have this issue so far advanced in the process before soliciting public opinion.  It makes it appear that public opinion is not valued or to be avoided, which is disconcerting.  Such a shortcut can be quite costly of time, trust, and also money.  I'm sure the many recent emails to the council and newspaper articles will convince you that there are many residents who care deeply about preserving Bayfront Park as a natural public space.  I look forward to learning more at the Oct. 25th council meeting.

 

Sincerely,

Alice Newton (resident for 18 years and off and on for 13 years before that)