Community Center, Palo Alto

Between the annual block parties, swim meets at Rinconada Pool or simply walking their children down the street to Walter Hays Elementary School, the residents in the Community Center neighborhood have a knack for keeping themselves busy.

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From Peter Allen -- a resident who has tried to launch a local fiber-to-the-home network -- to parents volunteering at their kids' elementary schools, there is always the hustle and bustle of residents who play an active part in their neighborhood.

Community Center -- bounded by Embarcadero Road, Middlefield Road, Channing Avenue and Newell Road -- is cluttered with minivans, gleaming sports cars and well-kept front yards.

The kid-friendly attractions -- including the Children's Library and Junior Museum and Zoo -- bring families to the neighborhood, which has a lot of action on Halloween, Allen said.

Facts: CHILDCARE AND PRESCHOOLS: Walter Hays Kids' Club, 1525 Middlefield Road FIRE STATION: No. 3, 799 Embarcadero Road LIBRARY: Main Library, 1213 Newell Road, Children's Library, 1276 Harriet St. NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Rick Ferguson, 650-327-3222, rick@skylonda.com PARK: Rinconada Park, 777 Embarcadero Road POST OFFICE: Main, 2085 E. Bayshore Road; Hamilton, 380 Hamilton Ave. PRIVATE SCHOOL: St. Elizabeth Seton School, 1095 Channing Ave. PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Walter Hays or Duveneck elementary schools, Jordan Middle School, Palo Alto High School SHOPPING: Midtown, Downtown Palo Alto MEDIAN 2007 HOME PRICE: $1,839,000 ($1,250,000-$3,510,000) # HOMES SOLD: 14

Richard Ferguson, president of the Community Center Neighbors' Association, said that a little focused volunteer effort and a healthy sense of humor can go a long way.

He's been an active member in his children's schools, in addition to his association work.

"This focus comes from my younger days as an engineer, and still works well in my businessperson days today," Ferguson said. "It's a pleasure to put that skill to work on civic matters now and then."

There are a number of activities that residents put together for the kids in the neighborhood and also for the adults.

"The Community Center Neighbors' Association supports block-party social activities, volunteer participation in other civic organizations and collaboration with city government when there's value added both ways," Ferguson said.

Allen, a father of two, said there is a kids' roller-derby event that takes place every year, organized by a resident who happens to be the vice president of engineering at Pixar.

Along with the roller-derby event, residents host a few social events every year.

Rick Adams, a resident since 1998, has been organizing street parties for the last eight years.

"We have an 80 percent turn out," he said. Once held in mid-June, the date of the party has moved to mid-September, since that's after school has begun and most people are in town.

The street parties involve a lot of food and activities for the kids in the neighborhood. The street is shut down, tables and chairs are rented and residents are able to mingle with their neighbors.

"Last year there were about 30 kids under the age of 10 at the street party," Adams said.

Judith Mante, a mother of three, said her husband enjoys the block parties because it gives him a chance to network with his neighbors and see what else people are interested in or involved with.

"You meet people you don't meet otherwise and you get to see what activities they are involved in with their children or with their career," Mante said.

Adams said the neighborhood is perfect for anyone who has young children. Besides the Children's Library -- which is currently undergoing renovation and will re-open in the beginning of 2008 -- Walter Hays Elementary School, Rinconada Park, the Palo Alto Art Center and the Lucie Stern Community Center are nearby.

"It's hard to believe that anywhere else could be better for a family with children," Adams said.

He has also volunteered as the PTA president for Walter Hays Elementary. He said that everything he did -- from fund raising to orchestrating a breakfast for the community -- drew upon different skills he had acquired from working.

"That is common with a lot of parents who are actively involved," Adams said. "I use my skill set to bring back to the schools."

Mante said she volunteers her time with helping teachers in the classroom and organizing events at the school.

"My kids are on the Rinconada swim team, and I do community hours for them as the contact parent for new kids and parents who join the swim team," she said. "I like to help them feel a bit more at home."

Allen, vice president of the Community Center Neighbors' Association, found his passion in trying to launch the fiber-to-the-home community network.

"I walked up to my neighbors' doors and asked them to become active," said Allen, who has been a resident of the community since 1990.

In 2001, about 70 houses signed up for the fiber-to-the-home network trial and 40 percent said they would like to keep the local area network, he said.

"It is exciting because our neighborhood was on the forefront of this municipal network," he said.

He said that because he was talking to his neighbors about the network idea, he realized he was living next to interesting and amazing individuals.

Over the years, Ferguson believes the Community Center neighborhood has seen a wonderful flourishing of new families.

"It remains a healthy and valuable place for a young family to put down roots and grow -- as my own family did -- and for old folks to thrive as well," he said.

--Elizabeth Perry