Big Dish area will be closed for five days in August

The popular walking destination for Menlo Park residents, Stanford’s Big Dish area, will be closed Monday, August 15 through Friday, August 19. We’re using that announcement to showcase some of InMenlo contributing photographer Irene Searles photos of the area’s creatures.

The closure will allow for coordinated maintenance activities in and around the area. According to a Stanford press release, the decision to completely close the Dish area was made in an effort to minimize the amount of time that access to the recreation region will be restricted.

Work will include service road and walking-path maintenance, storm-pipe repair and tree watering and mulching. The Dish Area is expected to reopen on Saturday, Aug. 20, and remain open during the remainder of the summer and fall.

Plans for a separate California Water Service project to install a water line near the Alpine Road and Piers Lane access point will require the closure of the Dish area’s Alpine Gate for several weeks. Dates for this project have not been finalized. Cal Water will post signs in the parking area and at the gate in advance of the expected closure.

During that closure, there will be no parking on Alpine Road and Piers Lane. Alternative public parking will be available on Stanford Avenue and Coyote Hill Road.

For updates and more information on the Dish closure, visit dish.stanford.edu.

Photos by Irene Searles (c) 2016