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Parks and Recreation Commission plans work‑plan subcommittee, approves March minutes and hears department event updates
Summary
At its April 22 meeting the Menlo Park Parks and Recreation Commission set an August 11 target to report its work plan to City Council, agreed to form a subcommittee to draft that report, approved the March 25 minutes unanimously, and received department updates including a 143-person community run registration and a record Spring Fest attendance figure.
The Menlo Park Parks and Recreation Commission met April 22 and covered business items including work‑plan preparation for City Council, the approval of March meeting minutes, attendance reporting, department event statistics, and scheduling for park tours and presentations.
Chair Wanman Lee and staff briefed commissioners on the normal cycle for the Commission work plan and noted a tentative report‑out date to City Council of August 11. Commissioners supported creating a small ad hoc subcommittee to draft and iterate the report before it goes to Council and asked staff to return with subcommittee details at the next meeting.
A motion to approve the minutes of the March 25, 2026 meeting was made, seconded and recorded as approved by roll call. The motion passed unanimously with all present commissioners recorded as "Approved." The transcript records the roll-call responses as individual commissioners stating "Approve," but it does not assign each recorded vote to a named roll‑call entry in the transcript; staff confirmed the minutes will reflect the official attendance and vote records.
The Commission received the annual Advisory Body Attendance Report, which staff said is provided to City Council; staff noted removal of a commissioner for attendance is rare and typically follows staff outreach.
Ashton presented Library and Community Services Department updates and statistics. Key figures reported: 143 registered participants for an upcoming community fun run (organizers capped registration to manage supplies), Belhaven Community Resource Fair attendance up 25% year over year, and a reported record Spring Fest attendance (reported in the meeting as 83,000). Staff noted ongoing facility repairs (gym wall reopening April 27), PG&E power-testing schedules, and volunteer recognition opportunities (California Parks and Recreation Society awards on May 7).
The Commission reviewed the tentative agenda calendar (next regular meeting May 27 at Belle Haven Community Center), discussed arranging park tours and a Youth Advisory Committee presentation, and confirmed some agenda items to be scheduled in May or June. Commissioners also discussed the status of several park capital projects, including a schedule update request for Kelly Park field and track work.
The meeting closed with commissioners agreeing to deliver individual park reports at future meetings and recommending the Bedwell Bayfront Park walking bird tour program as a community engagement opportunity. The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:30 p.m.
