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Park Forest, a Menlo Park neighborhood, consists mainly of a U-shaped cluster of 85 townhouses arranged around a park dotted with redwoods and Italian stone pines.

Bordered by El Camino and the train tracks, Buckthorn to the South and Stone Pine to the North, a half dozen detached houses also lie within the borders. People drive by the neighborhood every day and don't know it exists.

The townhouses are organized into three associations, each responsible for its own green space and pool. Mature redwoods are a main feature of the landscaping.

"The redwoods were once in containers from Roger Reynolds Nursery," says Marcia Cox, who moved to Park Forest in 1993 when she was downsizing. The land was once part of the 15 acres purchased in 1916 by Roger Reynolds, a printer who changed careers due to his allergy to printing ink.

Ms. Cox says that she loves the architecture of the townhouses and the sophisticated, urbane feel of the neighborhood. She also appreciates being within easy walking distance to the library and Kepler's Books and Magazines, a community icon. A drugstore, exercise salon, mini-mart and psychic are within a stone's throw.

The townhouses range from approximately 2,500 to 3,500 square feet.

"There are no common walls," says Ms. Cox. "They're all individual homes and they all sit on their own foundations."

All were built in the 1960's and mid '70's in the International, or Bauhaus style with large windows overlooking nearby Holbrook-Palmer Park. Stucco exteriors predominate, and most have now been remodeled and individualized with iron work, stone, enclosed terraces and even interior elevators.

Richard and Diane Rosensweig, moved from Providence, R.I. 23 years ago and raised their daughter in Park Forest. Mr. Rosensweig says that there were only three young kids in their complex when they arrived, and children and young adults are still somewhat rare. "Most people here are middle-aged," he says — folks who are downsizing and who appreciate the lack of maintenance.

Both Mr. Rosensweig and Ms. Cox attest to the friendliness of their neighbors.

"It's the kind of place where someone invites you over for crab right off the boat," says Ms. Cox.

But the adjacent Caltrain tracks do bring some noise.

"The train is a presence," admits Cox. "It used to be like a lone wolf call." She adds that the increase in commuter trains with concomitant horn warnings is now more intrusive.

Mr. Rosensweig says that there is concern about the impact of High Speed Rail, especially if the right of way encroaches into the neighborhood.

Another neighborhood concern is development and how it will affect the area — specifically, the corner of Watkins Avenue and El Camino and also redevelopment of the site of the former Gaylord's Restaurant. Presently, there is very little traffic in the neighborhood.


FACTS


CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOLS: The Playschool, Holbrook-Palmer Park, 150 Watkins Ave., Atherton; Trinity School Early Childhood Program at Holy Trinity Church, 330 Ravenswood Ave., Menlo Park

FIRE STATION: 700 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park

PARK: Holbrook-Palmer Park, 150 Watkins Ave., Atherton

NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATIONS: Park Forest 1, President Theo Keet; Park Forest 2, Kim Wiscaol; Park Forest 3, Debbie Koelling

PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Menlo Park City Elementary School District — Laurel School, 95 Edge Road, Atherton; Encinal School, 195 Encinal Ave., 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, Stone Pine Center

MEDIAN HOME PRICE: $1,257,000 ($1,200,000-$1,314,000)

NO. OF HOMES SOLD: 2

View the neighborhood map (PDF)

— Susan Golovin