Neighborhood Spotlight: Crescent Park of Palo Alto
Crescent Park is one of Palo Alto’s most prestigious neighborhoods. It is bordered by Channing Avenue, Middlefield Road, Newell Road, and San Francisquito Creek. This enclave is one of the first glimpses of Palo Alto that visitors can see as they enter University Avenue from the US 101. When I first visited Palo Alto, I remember thinking—like many others do—that Crescent Park is a gorgeous place that has everything you could wish for in a neighborhood.
As prospective buyers enter the neighborhood, they will most likely notice the Spanish Colonial influences that exist due to the celebrated architecture of Birge Clark. This strong design theme, softened by the beautiful mature trees on expansive lots, definitely elevates the charm of the neighborhood.
As for the neighbors, many have lived in Crescent Park a lifetime and call Palo Alto their home. In addition to the tech workers of Silicon Valley, there also exists much diversity in the residential population. Many residents hail from a variety of professions, including tech, dentistry, law, banking, and medicine, contributing to the rich neighborhood heritage.
This prime community is also home to Eleanor Pardee Park, which is one of the biggest parks in Palo Alto. These lovely grounds offer playgrounds, a picnic area, and—my personal favorite—a community garden where residents can grow fruits, flowers, and vegetables.
Crescent Park Neighborhood Association (CPNA) is another excellent feature of the Crescent Park neighborhood. This association forms a great way to meet people in the community and discuss concerns, not only about the neighborhood, but also about issues that affect the entire city. CPNA has also created an online forum that allows members to post questions and make suggestions. Residents have even used this forum to adopt and give away pets within the community!
Crescent Park has also been at the center of one of the most recent ordinances to be implemented in Palo Alto. The ordinance is a ban on parked cars running their engines for more than two or three minutes after they have parked. The reason Crescent Park has been the target of this ordinance is because a tech titan has private security outside his residence 24 hours a day. Although the security vehicles are usually idle for no more than one hour for every eight hours they are parked, members of his security detail will have to find other options to keep power going inside their vehicles while stationed in the neighborhood.
Apart from this security detail, construction vehicles and tech shuttles are probably the greatest offenders of this ordinance, and will now have to find other alternatives to idling their vehicles. Exemptions are to include public safety vehicles only during emergencies, public works vehicles under certain city rules, and electric vehicles because they don’t emit carbon. It goes without saying, but the ordinance will not apply to cars idling in traffic or at stop lights. The action contributes to Palo Alto’s goal of reducing 224,600 tons of CO2 emissions by 2030. Automobiles are responsible for approximately 50 percent of those emissions.
The beauty and prestige of Crescent Park will continue to grow as time goes on, and it will always be one of Palo Alto’s most special places. Both Palo Alto and Crescent Park continue to lead the way in inspiring sustainability and building exemplary communities.
Here at DeLeon Realty, we are big fans of the advantages Crescent Park brings to the area. In fact, we have helped many buyers become a part of this stunning neighborhood. Please reach out to us if you have any questions about the neighborhood, and we will be happy to update you with any new developments.
