At first glance, the sylvan locale of BarronPark may seem antiquated amidst the flurry of city life. However, residents here find its tranquility to be a welcome contrast to the technological world that surrounds it.
BarronPark’s roots reach back to a small tract of a Spanish Land Grant ranchothat was sold in 1853and named Mayfield Farm. Then mining tycoon Edward Barron acquired the 250-acre farm parcel in 1878. Later Colonel Sebastian Jones, owner and headmaster of the CaliforniaMilitaryAcademy, which occupied the BarronMansion, registered the land as the BarronPark subdivision in 1925. Finally, BarronPark was annexed to Palo Alto in 1975.
The BarronParkneighborhood is known for its eclectic collection of architectural styles, with homes ranging from multi-million dollar properties to modest dwellings in the Buena Vista mobile-home park.While many here are long-time residents,BarronParkalso attracts young professionals looking for a single-family home that provides a relaxed lifestyle in a friendly community. And as a true family environment, BarronPark is proud that children here attend such highly ranked schools asTermanMiddle School and GunnHigh School.
While the convenience of a wide array of businesses and services are close on El Camino Real, locals do love to walk along sidewalk-less streets to CornelisBolPark– home to BarronPark’s donkey mascots, Niner and Perry – treasured icons that reinforce the unique rural ambiance of the neighborhood.
The neighborhood associationBarron Park Association (BPA) is very active, from arranging everything from welcome packets for new residents, to coordinating neighborhood watch programs, to managing BarronPark’s popular annual events – the May Fete celebration, Luna New Year Celebration.The BPA also works to keep residents informed about and engaged in citywide issuesand local environmental concerns.
While Palo Alto has grown and changed over the years, the semi-rural “charm” of the BarronParkneighborhood has stayed constant, making it a great place to be.
BARRON PARK FACTS
LOCATION: roughly between Chimalus Drive and Maybell Avenue, El Camino Real and GunnHigh School fields
NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION: Barron Park Association – bpapaloalto.org
POST OFFICE: Cambridge, 265 Cambridge Ave.
FIRE STATION: No. 5, 600 Arastradero Road
LIBRARY: College Terrace branch, 2300 Wellesley St.; Mitchell Park branch, 3700 Middlefield Road
PUBLIC SCHOOLS: BarronPark and JuanaBrionesSchools, TermanMiddle School, GunnHigh School
SHOPPING: AlmaPlaza, San Antonio Shopping Center, California Avenue
PARKS: CornelisBolPark; JuanaBrionesPark
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