Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Could federal sanctions derail Menlo Park’s towering Willow Road project?

Be sure to catch Ragnarocktoberfest 2026 3-Day Nerf Event on the Menlo Park Patch calendar

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Saturday September 26th Patch AM
Saturday September 26th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Morning Menlo Park! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Could federal sanctions derail Menlo Park's towering Willow Road project?
  • How will the expanded SRI project reshape traffic across Menlo Park?
  • How sure are you that your child's car seat is installed correctly?

Also on today's calendar: Ragnarocktoberfest 2026 3-Day Nerf Event and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: Riddle: David's parents have three sons: Snap, Crackle, and what's the name of the third son? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Saturday: Partly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 75 and low of 55 degrees.
  • Sunday: Partly sunny and cool, temps: high: 72, low: 53.
  • Monday: Partly sunny, with a high of 78 and low of 53 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Congressman calls for feds to investigate, sanction Russian owner of Menlo Park development site (house.gov) — A massive high-rise project at 80 Willow Road in Menlo Park faces new uncertainty as Rep. Sam Liccardo urges federal officials to investigate and potentially sanction its Russian owner. State leaders are pressuring the city to approve the Willow Park development, while Mayor Betsy Nash and others warn it could worsen local housing and infrastructure strains if it proceeds unchecked.
   

2. Councilmember urges citywide traffic review as developer adds housing to SRI project in Menlo Park (almanacnews.com) — Menlo Park is weighing a major expansion of the Parkline redevelopment at the former SRI campus, adding nearly 300 more homes and a new retail village while shrinking office space. As the proposal heads back for revision and environmental review, a councilmember is demanding a citywide traffic and circulation study, warning that combined growth from multiple nearby projects could overwhelm Lindfield Oaks and surrounding neighborhoods.
   

3. Is your child's car seat safely and properly installed? (inmenlo.com) — Menlo Park parents are being urged by local police to double-check that their children's car seats and booster seats are correctly installed and appropriate for their age, height, and weight. With state law requirements and sobering safety statistics in mind, the department points families to trusted national resources so they can quickly confirm their setups and make any needed fixes.
   

4. Study session on downtown Menlo Park parking lot development set for September 29 (inmenlo.com) — Menlo Park residents have a key chance on Sept. 29 to weigh in as the City Council reviews competing proposals to redevelop the downtown parking lots near 751 Laurel Street. Officials will discuss financial gaps, possible city subsidies, and how to choose a preferred development team, shaping future housing, retail, and public space downtown. You can attend in person or online.
   

📸 Around Menlo Park

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Menlo Park

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Menlo Park Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Menlo Park PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Does anyone have recommendations for local bird hotels/pet sitters?
    We will be traveling in October and need an option for our elderly budgie (Nextdoor Central Menlo)
  • Palo Alto mountain lion 2 AM alma at Kingsley Melville cougar ran on Alma south from Whole Foods?
    Then turn left on a street before Embarcadero 2026.09.25 Fri 02:00 Puma According to driver of redacted truck (Nextdoor Sharon Heights)
  • i9 Sports Corporation posted a job opening for Sport Official Flag Football in Menlo Park. Apply here.
  • Bayside Solutions, Inc. posted a job opening for Sr. Technician, Quality Control in Menlo Park. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Menlo Park here.

Ok Menlo Park! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: David (Thank you Thomas F. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Menlo Park-Atherton