Burgess Park

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Burgess Park is a public park located in the city of Menlo Park, California.


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Summary

The park consists of 11 acres and offers a variety of recreational activities for visitors, including basketball and tennis courts, a playground, picnic areas, and a multipurpose field for sports.

One of the main attractions of Burgess Park is the Burgess Pool, which is open year-round and offers lap swimming, recreational swimming, and swim lessons. Additionally, the park hosts a farmer's market every Sunday where visitors can purchase local produce and artisanal goods.

Burgess Park is also home to the Menlo Park Library, which offers a range of services and events for all ages, including storytime for children and book clubs for adults.

Interesting facts about the park include its history as a former landfill site, which was transformed into a park in the 1960s. The park was named after former Menlo Park mayor and city council member, Paul Burgess.

The best time of year to visit Burgess Park is during the summer months when the pool is open and the weather is warm and sunny. However, the park is open year-round and offers activities for visitors throughout the year.

In conclusion, Burgess Park is a great destination for those looking for outdoor recreation, community events, and family-friendly activities in Menlo Park, California.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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