Los Altos City Council has proposed McKenzie Park (707 Fremont Ave) and the Maintenance Service Center (MSC) for Los Altos as a possible 10th LASD school site.  McKenzie Park (& MSC) are valuable community resources and NOT a viable option for a new LASD school site. 

1)  Significant traffic congestion already exists at the two entry points to Fremont Ave where school access would reside (Fremont/Springer/Berry and Fremont/Miramonte).  Bottlenecks at Loyola Corners, Altos Oaks and Rancho Shopping Center are already a major neighborhood issue.  Residential side streets (Altos Oaks/Manor) would then be used to bypass busy intersections creating a safety hazard for pedestrians and bikers in the neighborhood. 

2)  This is an expensive option!  In addition to relocating the Maintenance Yard to a new 3 acre site within the city boundaries, preparation for a school would require removal of numerous protected trees, resolving the drainage issues in the field and removal of the buildings/storage/fuel tanks that reside on the site.  

Note that a new site for the Maintenance Yard (MSC) has not been identified and a land purchase will add to the expense.  The MSC services the entire city of Los Altos providing 24/7 emergency response for sewer and drainage issues in addition to maintaining our parks and city land.  LASD Maintenance services are also based at the MSC. 

3)  McKenzie Park is a valuable community resources with recreation classes, tennis lessons, local school events, BBQ's, neighborhood gatherings and many residents using the facilities on a daily basis. According to the “Los Altos Parks Plan” dated May 8, 2012, City of Los Altos prioritizes parks and open space as key elements of the city master plan.  Loss of a park or open space is counter to this commitment.  Per the Parks Plan, Los Altos does not have enough park space per resident: “Compared to similar, regional cities, Los Altos has a low park acreage ratio. Per 1,000 residents, Los Altos has approximately 1.57 acres of dedicated parkland” (p. 9)

Shared use is not an option since this limits the use of the park to only afterschool and weekends. 

Los Altos does not have enough parks!

4)  Loyola Elementary is located at 770 Berry Ave and is situated in close proximity to McKenzie Park (https://www.google.com/maps/place/McKenzie+Park/@37.358519,-122.091733,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x909b57a7448abb17). ;

In fact, 8 additional schools are within close proximity (Blach, St. Francis, Springer, Pinewood, Ventana, Miramonte Christian and two preschools Children's House and Children's Center). 

5) Loyola Fire Department and Los Altos Sub-acute and Rehabilitation Center would be next to the new school and impacted by traffic and congestion.  Parking for school use on Manor and Altos Oak would likely impact safety routes of emergency vehicles.  Loyola Fire Station is one of only two Los Altos fire stations serving the Los Altos community.

6)  The site does not address the area of main growth for the district along the El Camino corridor.

These are just a few reasons why this is not a viable option for a new school site.  Please share yours!

Please support our petition to preserve McKenzie Park!!  Let Los Altos City Council and Los Altos School Board know that this is not an option for a new school site.   You can also email them directly at:

trustees@lasdschools.org​

council@losaltosca.gov

THANK YOU FOR HELPING TO SAVE OUR VALUABLE PARKLAND!!  

Learn more at WWW.SAVEMCKENZIEPARK.COM and get on our mailing list.