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Kayla Skidmore, a 23-year resident of Central Menlo Park, considers her home's proximity to local schools, downtown Menlo Park, and to Stanford to be a real asset.

When her three boys were younger, they could walk downtown after school. She used to walk to work at Children's Hospital; and over the years, the family frequently biked to events at Stanford. "I really valued being able to do that," she says.

West of downtown and east of the Alameda, between San Francisquito Creek and Valparaiso Avenue, various mini-neighborhoods comprise Central Menlo, the heart of Menlo Park. Neighborhood names are taken from their streets, such as Bay Laurel, Olive, and Santa Rita, or from their tracts, including Oakdell Manor and Oakville Terrace. The tree-lined streets give an orderly and peaceful feel to the area.

The former site of the U.S. Army's Camp Fremont, which trained 43,000 soldiers during World War I, Central Menlo Park was transformed into a residential neighborhood after World War II. Many of the houses were constructed by custom-home developers Day and Arnold, though a pocket of Eichler-designed homes can be found off Olive Street. A considerable amount of remodeling has taken place in recent years and it continues at a steady pace.

Vickie Fantuzzi and her family moved into Central Menlo Park eight years ago, building a new home on their lot after tearing down the original ranch.

"The neighborhood has everything we were looking for," she says. "We are only a few blocks from school, in a settled neighborhood, with downtown shops readily accessible, and the kids' friends are all close by."

The quality of neighborhood schools has attracted many young families, but families with older children and empty nesters remain. Raising her family surrounded by this cross-section of ages gives Ms. Skidmore "a very comfortable feeling," she says.

Neighbors of all ages remain connected. Block parties and Neighborhood Watch groups are common. In the Skidmores' neighborhood there has been a Memorial Day block party every year for at least 31 years, and in the Fantuzzis' neighborhood, neighbors gather together for an annual summer party.


FACTS


CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOLS: The Kirk House Preschool, 1148 Johnson St., Menlo Park; St. Joseph's Montessori Preschool and Kindergarten, 150 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton; Littlest Angels Bethany Preschool, 1095 Cloud Ave., Menlo Park

FIRE STATION: 700 Oak Grove, Menlo Park

PARKS: Tinkers Park, Santa Cruz Avenue at Elder Avenue near Hillview School, Menlo Park; Jack W. Lyle Park, Middle Avenue and Fremont Street, Menlo Park; Fremont Park, Santa Cruz Avenue and University Drive, Menlo Park; Nealon Park, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park

NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Santa Rita Homeowners Association, Anita Dippery, 650-325-9936

PRIVATE SCHOOLS: Menlo School, 50 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton; Sacred Heart Prep, 150 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton; St. Joseph's School, 50 Emilie Ave., Atherton; St. Raymond's Elementary School, 1211 Arbor Road, Menlo Park

PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Menlo Park City Elementary School District — Oak Knoll School, 1895 Oak Knoll Lane, Menlo Park; Hillview Middle School, 1100 Elder Ave., Menlo Park

Sequoia Union High School District — Menlo-Atherton High School, 555 Middlefield Road, Atherton

SHOPPING: Downtown Menlo Park, Allied Arts

MEDIAN 2008 HOME PRICE: $2,317,500 ($1,050,000-$4,310,000)

HOMES SOLD: 40

View the neighborhood map (PDF)

— Monique Johnson