Magical Bridge (at Mitchell Park) 

Along with the city of Palo Alto, sponsored Friends of the Magical Bridge to create a new kind of park in Palo Alto — one that bridges the gap between those with and those without special needs. Magical Bridge Playground, designed to delight visitors of all ages and abilities, opened in April 2015. For complete details on this unique playground, go to www.magicalbridge.org. 

Lytton Plaza 

In a public/private partnership with the city of Palo Alto and Friends of Lytton Plaza, sponsored an update of the downtown plaza to make it more welcoming. In addition to the central feature of a water fountain, other amenities include improved lighting, container-planted trees to provide shade and a leafy canopy, and more comfortable seating. Ribbon cutting was in December of 2009. 

Heritage Park Playground 

Facilitated the formation of the Heritage Park Playground LLC in 2006 which raised significant funds to create the playground at Heritage Park. The public/private partnership allowed for latitude in the playground’s design, and a one-of-a-kind feature is a wall of personalized hand-painted tiles commissioned by parents, grandparents, groups, non-profits, and other groups and individuals. The dolphin was a special gift from a member of the community. 

Baylands Nature Preserve

Pledged and raised funds in 2018 and 2019 for the design of interpretive panels and interactive exhibits along two miles of multipurpose trail (Friendship Trail) and the adjoining 1/4-mile-long boardwalk of the Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center. Part of a city project called “Bridging Communities by Caring for a Salt Marsh,” the signage is meant to interpret and engage communities in the care of the marshlands of Palo Alto Baylands Nature Preserve. The design phase of this project got underway at the end of 2019.

Bol Park Native Plant Garden

Assisted with fund raising since 2008 for the volunteer-maintained California Native Plant Garden in Bol Park. Initial city of Palo Alto park renovation plans established native plants in the area northwest of the upper bike path. Barron Park residents added the California Native Plant Garden to the established city native plot. 

Elinor Cogswell Plaza 

Contributed funds to set up WiFi internet access at Cogswell Plaza through the city’s server. This first installation of WiFi in a Palo Alto park was activated on August 8, 2013 in a small ceremony that included the mayor, city staff, and the president of Friends of the Palo Alto Parks. The fiber conduit was laid when new turf was installed as part of a city Capital Improvement Project.

Foothills Park

Applied for and received a grant from The David and Lucile Packard Foundation in 2005 to hire a volunteer recruiter and launch a marketing campaign for Friends of Foothills Park. 

Heritage Park

Contributed funds for park amenities over a number of years, in particular for benches, trash receptacles, and the planting of trees. 

Juana Briones Park

Contributed funds in 2005 for a four-foot cross section of an oak trunk with its rings depicting time lines in the life of pioneer and business woman Juana Briones. The cross section, on the Maybell side of the park, was from a tree that had once provided shade for the playground. Eventually the elements weathered away at the oak, and the educational display was removed in 2019. 

Lawn Bowling Green 

Contributed funds for clubhouse improvements and enhancements including kitchen appliances, ceiling fans, carpeting, outdoor electrical wiring, and shelving for a storage unit. 

Lucie Stern Community Center 

Replanted the courtyard entryway and the planter in the center of the courtyard (formerly a fountain) at the city’s request in 2013. Twelve volunteers from Friends, Kiwanis, and the Lawn Bowls Club dug holes and put in about 250 plants, from shrubs to perennial flowers. 

Benches

Sponsored nine benches — two at Baylands Nature Preserve, one at Eleanor Pardee Park, two at Peers Park, and four at Heritage Park — to honor true friends of Palo Alto parks. The bench pictured above honoring former Palo Alto mayor Alan Henderson is at the Baylands and can be reached via a 20-minute walk on the trail from Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center. Also at the Baylands (at the Duck Pond) is a bench honoring Kiwanis Club of Palo Alto. 

Bike Palo Alto

Partnered with Bike Palo Alto since 2017. Bike Palo Alto includes Palo Alto parks in all of its routes, and Friends of the Palo Alto Parks produced information on city parks to distribute at a Bike Palo Alto event. Pictured above is the bike treat stop at Don Secundino Robles Park.

Eleanor Pardee Park 

At the city’s request, provided labor with help from Kiwanis Club in 2011 in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of 9/11. White carpet roses were planted as a dominant feature. Memorial Grove is on the Center side of the park at Tevis. A plaque designates the area as “9/11 Memorial Grove.” 

Pearson Arastradero Preserve 

Applied for and received a grant from the Rotary Club of Palo Alto for educational displays at the interpretive center.