Bayfront Park has a new name in 2009. Menlo Park City Council voted on September 2, 2008 to rename the park Bedwell Bayfront Park, in honor of Mike Bedwell. He was, for 27 years, the city manager, and died in 2008. Especially appropriate is that he guided the city for years and ensured that Bayfront Park did indeed become a park after the end of the landfill era.
The dedication ceremony will take place on Sunday, April 26, at 12:00 noon. Please join us, members of the Bedwell family, and other Menlo Park residents. There will be temporary displays to show you what the new interpretive panels will look like.
Menlo Park has designed 3 interpretive panels. One panel explains the role of Mike Bedwell. Another shows what lies under the lumps and bumps of the surface scenery. The third panel, developed by Friends of Bayfront Park, shows some of the different habitats and the fauna that are commonly seen there. Kathy Switky, who designed (and updated) our logo, has worked with the city and Friends to design and develop the panels. The panels will be installed later this spring.
Our Organization
Formed in 2005 to counter the proposal to develop a golf course at Bayfront Park, Friends of Bayfront Park also fought the next plan to put playing fields at the park, culminating in the resounding defeat of Measure J in the November, 2006 election. Our goal now is to ensure that Bayfront Park receives more permanent protection as open space for "passive" recreation. We would also like to make a few improvements to the park.
Friends of Bayfront Park is an officially sponsored project of Acterra.
Friends of Bayfront Park is also a member of the Kepler's Community Partners Program. Whenever anyone mentions our name while shopping at Kepler's, they record the transaction and quarterly donate back 5% to us.
Our Mission
The mission of the Friends of Bayfront Park is to enhance the unique open space of Bayfront Park and to promote it regionally now and for future generations.
Contacts
The Friends of Bayfront Park operates out of Menlo Park, California. View our contact information.
Location and Hours of Operation
The park is open from sunrise to sunset every day.
Facilities
Paved parking lot
Restrooms
Trails: mostly unpaved. Perimeter is flat, but there are steep trails in the interior.
Getting There
The park is located on the edge of the San Francisco Bay at Highway 101 and Marsh Road. Here is a street map.
Friends of Bayfront Park