Protect Nature at Bedwell Bayfront Park

Please join me in asking Menlo Park’s Parks and Recreation Commissioners to recommend to the city council the banning of drones and remote-controlled aircraft at Bedwell Bayfront Park.

What You Can Do
1.Email Parks and Recreation Commissioners by Wed. evening (emails and sample text below)

2. Join me at the Parks and Rec Commission meeting
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 6:30pm
City Council Chambers, 701 Laurel St., Menlo Park

What’s Happening
Flying drones and remote-controlled planes has become a popular activity at Bedwell Bayfront Park. Because of the noise and other disturbances to people and wildlife, we are asking the commissioners to recommend to the city council that they ban these aircrafts from the park.

Why It Matters
Bedwell Bayfront Park is located along the Bay and surrounded on three sides by the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge. In addition to being home to local wildlife, the park provides an important opportunity for people to experience nature. Furthermore, the park’s master plan states that the park should provide “an opportunity for people to enjoy peace and quiet.” Due to the impacts on both wildlife and people, Bedwell Bayfront Park is not the right place for drones and remote-controlled planes.

For more information, please see my letter to the Menlo Park Parks and Recreation Commission.

Thank you for joining me in speaking up to protect nature at this important local park.

Sincerely,

Alice Kaufman
Legislative Advocate

Commissioner emails: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected], [email protected],
[email protected]

Sample email text
Dear Parks and Recreation Commissioners,

Please recommend to the city council that they ban drones and remote-controlled aircraft at Bedwell Bayfront Park. Drones and remote-controlled aircraft create noise and other disturbances for wildlife and people. Due to these impacts, Bedwell Bayfront Park is not the right place for drones and remote-controlled planes.

Thank you for protecting nature at our local park.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

Comments (8)

Dave Scroggins

September 23, 2015

I’m sorry Alice. I don’t agree with this action.
I use Bedwell part to run on a regular basis. I have not ever found any remote controlled aircraft particularly disturbing. The devices are not particularly loud once they are airborne. Even nearby they are not annoyingly loud. Further I have not seen the operators of these aircraft operating them in an irresponsible manner. As long as the machines are relatively quiet and are operating responsibly I feel they should be allowed to operate n Bedwell Park.

There are much better causes to which this committee should be working on.

Regards,
Dave Scroggins

Reply

Alice Kaufman
September 23, 2015

Hi Dave,

Thanks for your comment. Our main concern is for the impact on the wildlife in the Don Edwards Wildlife Refuge, which surrounds the park on three sides. Shorebirds and waterfowl react to low-flying remote-controlled aircraft much as they do to avian predators. We are not opposed to all drone or remote-controlled aircraft operations, but due to the presence of the Refuge, Bedwell-Bayfront Park is the wrong place for these activities to occur.

Alice Kaufman
- Reply
  
  Jim Brown
  September 23, 2015
  
  What alternative do you for the RC flyer to fly at? Keep in mind that not all RC planes make noise. Larger size drone are more quieter than a mini racer drone.
  You do know that gliders don’t make no noise!
- Reply
  
  Rick Schloss
  February 13, 2016
  
  Alice,
  I have an electric quad-copter that I have flown over my friend’s chickens at an altitude of 10 feet. They paid no heed to it. They completely ignored it’s presence. I have flown within 20 feet above ducks sitting on the edge of a pond, again no response. You site impact on the wildlife, but I would ask you if there are any studies that you can site? Or, is this simply your opinion that has turned into fact?
  
  It might be possible to enlist the help of a few of us “drone” pilots to participate in a study that would provide some data

Peggy Hennessee

September 23, 2015

Protecting a dwindling resource for the benefit of nature and humans is a perfectly valid and worthy cause.

I fully support a ban on drones and remote controlled aircraft in the park. The motion and noise created by them is disruptive and threatening to birds and animals who rely on the park and nearby refuge for sanctuary. While these machines may be operated in other areas, wildlife doesn’t have that choice of location.

The park’s appeal includes wildlife. That appeal will not be diminished by a lack of flying machines.

Reply

Jim Brown
September 24, 2015

Peggy, Someone online have mention that she wants RC ban at the park and it have nothing to do with wildlife or refuge. The park happen to be next door to it.

Also she provided no evidence that it will cause a impact, let alone any citations of it. I read on the Menlo Park web site and they mention they did not find any evidence of any impact that would harm wildlife from reading the pre meeting notes before the last night meeting.

Like I said, not all RC will make a noise. EDF jets will make a loud noise or a pusher, but not the other planes.

The bigger drone do not make loud noise since it is not a racer type drone.

Ronald R Horii

September 24, 2015

There was a bird strike incident at the Santa Clara County Model Aircraft Skypark in Morgan Hill along the Coyote Creek Trail. One of the model airplanes struck a hawk: http://www.sccmas.org/smf/index.php?topic=920.0
Now they have warnings posted about watching out for birds. The people flying at the airpark are registered, skilled pilots that have to follow extensive safety rules, unlike the pilots at Bedford. There are large raptors like turkey vultures and hawks, and small songbirds in the Coyote Creek area, but nowhere near the density and variety of birds that are along the Bay.

Bill Brotherton

October 15, 2015

It makes me sad to read your web page, how it focuses strictly on your wants with no regard to your neighbors that enjoy their hobby at the park. I treasure the birds, the jack rabbits, the lizards, and other wildlife in and around the park. I’ve photographed them and raised my kids to respect our wildlife. I care about the health of the bay and the environment that we live in. I also care about other people in this free America that we live in and I try to get along with them. Your completely one sided view with no regard for something that is important to me and many other people is depressing to me. Model aircraft enthusiasts can peacefully and safely coexist in harmony with other park users. I’ve been flying at Bayfront Park for over 25 years. Not one time has anyone ever provided any type of negative feedback to me at the park, not so much as a dirty look. I’ve put smiles on countless children’s faces over the years, adults as well. I don’t fly noisy planes and I don’t fly close to people. I’ve never seen anything that would lead me to believe that my flying disturbs or negatively impacts any people or wildlife at the park.

Protect Nature at Bedwell Bayfront Park

Alice Kaufman

Jim Brown

Rick Schloss

Jim Brown

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