Sun Microsystems, Menlo Park Campus
1601 Willow Road
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Dear Madam or Sir:
I had the pleasure of viewing the environs surrounding your facility a couple of days ago. You and your colleagues at the Menlo Park campus must already be aware of what I discovered: that your neighborhood, while quite lovely, is not particularly pedestrian -friendly in spots. My husband began a project several months ago that involves walking around the bay, on the bay Trail as much as possible, with our young daughter and whoever else is inspired to join him. I have participated in his walks twice now (out of more than a dozen trips). I decided to join him on this particular day because I had a creeping suspicion that they might encounter unsafe conditions and I wanted to help keep them from peril.
Indeed, there was a rather unfriendly stretch quite near to you -- I think it was on Willow, just across the intersection -- with fast cars and no sidewalks. Once we made it to safety we were at your door. We became a bit confused as to how to get back on track, as there was no obvious passage along the road in front of your property. I realize now that we could have found rather detailed information about the trail had we done more research online, but at the time we were relying on a Bay Trail map that did not show the trail winding behind your facility.
Perhaps it is the responsibility of some local bureaucracy to provide signage for the trails, but since that sort of thing often gets done about ten years after it’s proposed, if at all, I thought I would drop a line suggesting that you put up a little sign directing hikers to the trail that goes around behind you. Then again, I would not be surprised if we were the first and last folks who actually passed your way on foot.
Truly,
Liz Mann
P.S. What is that beautiful and strange tree between your place and the salt flats that grows orange-like fruits?
