There are not plenty of baseball fields at Flood Park, Mr. Sleeth. There is one adult field. No field for kids. Holbrook-Palmer will be a great venue for young families to enjoy the park.

This project is a great reminder that concerned citizens must get involved before decisions are made and need to read the fine print. Who would have imagined that the Town Council would ignore the input of the Planning Commission but the wording of the ballot measure allowed that to happen. We all now have to live with the result.

Next time concerned citizens should do a worst case analysis of any ballot measure and vote it down if it leaves loopholes.

Very excited to have an updated venue so close for our young boys to play in and go watch games at. Baseball is so important to us and its great that we'll have it in our backyard.

Atherton is a small town which relies on its citizens for taxes to support community needs (schools, parks, roads, etc), as well as participating in local life (filling its school seats, enjoying those parks, etc.) If we want Atherton to grow and prosper, we need to make our town more attractive to young families (and hopefully long-term, tax paying citizens) who will care for and invest in Atherton for the future. As a mother of children who have grown up here, I am so happy that Atherton has voted and approved a plan to make an improvement in such a vital park for this town. Anyone with children here knows that field space is VERY limited, and families often often have to travel far away to play games. Improving ONE baseball field, and adding a small set of stands to that field (a "stadium" it is NOT), is a nice gesture to the next generation. One only needs to look as far as Burgess Park in Menlo Park. Their small set of stands and improved baseball field is a beloved venue by local families who come to watch kids enjoying America's game. We're not talking "Manhattan" style concrete here. And who knows, you might walk over in the springtime, find a nice spot in the bleachers, eat a hot dog while watching a game and have a good time.

These were the supporters of the library in the park, the measure that lost. They're now protesting the use of concrete to build the baseball facility.

What did they think they were going to build the new library out of? Paper mache?

"Do you want a concrete park?"

Are they pulling out ALL the dirt and grass!?!?!?

OMG!!!!!

Those poor kids will have to play baseball on CONCRETE now!!!!!!!

It's gonna hurt when they slide into second, on a concrete basepath.

And those kids who fall from the swingset onto CONCRETE are going to get an "ow-wee".

Unrest? In stately Atherton?

What is this world coming to???

To follow up on Tgoode's comment, not only is there only one adult baseball field at Flood Park (and no "kids" fields), it has been in complete disrepair since the state used it a few years ago as a parking spot for industrial equipment for the Hetch-Hetchy Aqueduct repair project.

The state then gave San Mateo Parks & Rec $500k to replace the field, but Parks & Rec spent it to repair the parking lot instead.

So the baseball field at Flood Park isn't actually usable for anything other than maybe as dog park - although dogs aren't allowed either (for reasons no one can explain, but perhaps Mr. Sleeth argued there were plenty of dog parks elsewhere?).

Whenever I see anyone describe Atherton as "rural" I roll my eyes. Atherton is not rural. As Peter Carpenter has described his family's English village, I can tell you that in my family's experience "rural" means that one has to drive twelve miles to pick up the mail or buy a quart of milk, and that the land is zoned in a way that a pig farm can move in next door without having to ask anyone for permission.

Why should Atherton expect to only use the facilities that other people have paid for? I think it's entirely appropriate for Atherton do its fair share.

Rural?

Hahahahha.

Good one!

With other communities dealing with failing schools, crime, and injustice, it seems a bit petty to protest a concrete truck. A truck laying the foundation for a community baseball field that brings families together and teaches our children life long skills.

Nothing more natural than a vibrant park full of fans and families. Not sure what there is to protest. Drop the sign and engage with your community. Better to carry a hot dog then a grudge...

snooze and loose. About time Atherton USED their town for baseball and not every other cities facilities.

Atherton is ANYTHING but rural. That's pretty funny; the town surrounded by a concrete wall.

Must Be Kidding - Home Depot must've been out of wattle and daub when the concrete walk was erected :-)

ha - these are the guys that yell at kids to "GET OFF MY LAWN!"

It's about time that the city finally decided to make the fence, backstop and bleachers permanent over in the far corner of the park -- which affects no residents whatsoever. I've always thought it ridiculous that the baseball league had to construct and deconstruct the backstop and fence each year merely to placate complainers who have no better way to expend their negative energy.

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Perhaps these concerned Atherton Townies should protest the 5+ year swamp area near the children's play structure.

Congratulations Atherton for approving a playable surface for the children.

What seems to have been forgotten is that the Town from the beginning has tried to sustain and preserve our natural Habitat. Our 'heritage' is of Town officials upholding the idea of a "rural community with a country feeling". A concrete bunker is not part of that heritage.

Mr. Crittenden and I are in favor of baseball being played in Holbrook Palmer Park; it has been used for such for over 10 years. We both played Little League as boys. What we and many others find objectionable was the complete lack of concern for the residents' views of the plans, which were expressed by both the Parks and Recreation Committee and the Planning Commission. Both bodies voted against the plans the Menlo Atherton Little League had proposed, but the Council, by a 3-2 vote, voted to allow the Little League to proceed with plans that included, although they would probably deny it now, a monolithic concrete pour to create the support structure and seating. The vote on Measure M is really irrelevant. It was a confusing Ballot Measure, with absolutely no mention of a concrete structure. The Council is likely to be surprised as to how monolithic the structure is. A real need for a structure holding over 200 spectators was never shown. If it is ever fully used it will interfere with many other uses of the Park on weekends.

It was objectionable that the MALL was given a 'pass' on a review under the Park's Master Plan. That still should be demanded. Peter Carpenter may be correct we will have to live with it, but a lesson learned is that no wiser policy than complete transparency and close attention should be paid to the Town's resident led Committees and Commissions. The Council was 'sucked' into this and they are likely to regret it.

Walter Sleeth (A resident of the Lindenwood Neighbor hood)