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- 🍕 World-Champion Pizza Award, Park-Land Protections, and a new Mega Mart
🍕 World-Champion Pizza Award, Park-Land Protections, and a new Mega Mart
Downtown-housing shake-ups and your summer events cheat sheet inside.
Greg Kemper
July 31, 2025
Good morning neighbors!
Welcome to this week’s Palo Alto Scoop!
In this week’s newsletter, learn more about recent city developments, a new Mega Mart, and a variety of local events to plan your week!
Let’s dive in! 👇
In this week’s edition:
🦋 Parkland Protections: Palo Alto looks to protect more parkland spaces from development
🚆 New Train “Quiet Zone”: the physical infrastructure being built to accommodate this
🛍️ Family-friendly fun: outdoor movies, summer concerts, art classes, and more
🏬 New Plan for Downtown Housing
Palo Alto’s Downtown Housing Plan, launched in 2024 and backed by an $800,000 transit grant, aims to encourage more residential development in the city’s transit-rich core – an area that has seen little new housing since 2013. Downtown contributed just seven new units since 2013 and even lost 75 apartments back in 2018.
A Community Advisory Group is now reviewing zoning, land costs, parcel size, parking rules, and retail requirements in order to shape potential reforms. The goal is to put forward alternatives for increased density – especially near the Caltrain corridor – this fall, with a refined proposal to be finalized by November 2025. Read more here.
🦋 Palo Alto Looks to Protect More Parkland from Development
Palo Alto city officials are pushing to protect more parkland as housing growth accelerates, including revisiting efforts to return the long-dormant Measure E site in the Baylands back to open space status since plans for a composting facility there have stalled for nearly 15 years.
Meanwhile, the Parks and Recreation Commission is moving ahead with a more immediate proposal to officially dedicate about 80% of the Rinconada Gardens adjacent to Rinconada Park as parkland, with the rest reserved for future utility needs. The city hopes these protections will help meet parkland guidelines, even as development and housing pressures continue to grow. Click here to read more.
🚆Palo Alto Moves Forward on Train “Quiet Zone”
Palo Alto is moving forward with a plan to implement a train horn quiet zone at the Palo Alto Avenue & Alma Street crossing, right on the border with Menlo Park. The City Council recently approved a $3.8 million construction contract that includes pavement repairs, curb and sidewalk upgrades, new signage, and a reconstructed median required for federal quiet-zone safety.
Once the upgrades are finished, the city will coordinate with Caltrain and the Federal Railroad Administration to officially activate the zone, which will stop routine horn sounding at the crossing (though train bells will still be used). Additional quiet zones in south Palo Alto (at Churchill Avenue, Meadow Drive, and Charleston Road) are under review and would likely need four-quadrant gates or alternative safety enhancements to qualify. Read more here.
đź›’ Mega Mart Comes to East Palo Alto
1775 East Bayshore Road, East Palo Alto, 94303
Korean Supermarket Mega Mart is set to open its largest Bay Area location yet this September in East Palo Alto. The 50,000 sq ft store will feature new amenities including Basquia Bakery with gluten‑free rice‑flour pastries, a dedicated K‑Beauty Zone for Korean skincare products, and a casual takeout counter called Pogu Picnic offering Korean-style bento boxes for under $20. The addition is expected to bring more grocery variety to the area, and it reflects Mega Mart’s continued successful expansion across Silicon Valley. Click here to learn more.
State of Mind Public House & Pizzeria
State of Mind Public House & Pizzeria
101 Plaza North, Los Altos
3710 Florence Street, Redwood City
State of Mind Public House & Pizzeria just added more hardware to its trophy case: co-owner Lars Smith captured 2nd place in the pan pizza category at the 2025 Trofeo Caputo World Pizza Championship in Naples, Italy, while fellow co-owner Andrew Smith placed 3rd in the traditional American category. The duo’s latest wins build on a résumé that already includes a 2017 title for world’s best non-traditional pizza
You can taste that champion pedigree daily at 101 Plaza North, Los Altos or in Marsh Manor Shopping Center at 3710 Florence Street in Redwood City, both serving up their famous pizzas until 9 p.m. (10 p.m. Fri–Sat). Expect slow-proofed dough, seasonal Golden State produce, a rotating all-California beer list, and a ’90s-era gaming lineup to make a fun night out. Learn more here.
🎬 Movie on the Square | Courthouse Square | Redwood City | 7/31 | More
Enjoy a family-friendly outdoor movie night under the stars.
🌙 Parent's Night Out | Filoli | Woodside | 7/31 | More
Parents can relax with garden strolls and drinks while kids enjoy a night of fun.
🎨 Youth Still Life Drawing | Los Gatos Library | Los Gatos | 7/31 | More
Kids ages 8–17 can sketch and learn drawing techniques inspired by historical objects.
🎶 Summer Concert Series | Hillview Soccer Field | Los Altos | 7/31 | More
Live music fills the evening air in this free outdoor concert series.
🎬 Summer Movie Night: Men in Black | Springline Plaza | Menlo Park | 8/1 | More
Watch a classic sci-fi comedy in the plaza at this free outdoor movie night.
🎸 Music on the Square | Courthouse Square | Redwood City | 8/1 | More
Kick off the weekend with live music downtown.
🛍️ Los Altos Summer Sale | Downtown | Los Altos | 8/1 | More
Shop deals across local boutiques and stroll through downtown Los Altos.
🎨 Arts Walking Tour | Downtown | Los Altos | 8/1 | More
Take a guided stroll through downtown's vibrant art installations.
📽️ Family Movie Night | Mitchell Park Bowl | Palo Alto | 8/1 | More
Bring the family for a free film under the stars.
🍻 Pub in the Park | Red Morton Park | Redwood City | 8/2 | More
Live music, local brews, and relaxed vibes await in the park.
đź’Ş Free Barre3 Fitness Class | Springline Plaza | Menlo Park | 8/3 | More
Get moving with a free outdoor Barre3 workout.
🏓 Pickleball Club Grand Opening | Springline Plaza | Menlo Park | 8/3 | More
Celebrate the grand opening with games, food, and fun for all ages.
đź‘® National Night Out | Various Locations | Redwood City | 8/5 | More
Meet neighbors and local first responders at this nationwide community event.
🎬 Movie on the Square | Courthouse Square | Redwood City | 8/7 | More
Bring a blanket and settle in for a free outdoor movie.
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