Mercy-Bush Park, Mountain View
Mercy-Bush park is like the community back yard for everyone with kids in downtown Mountain View. It’s a small park, with a small grassy area, and a small jungle gym. You wouldn’t think it was something special, would you? Well, let me tell you…
Mr. Busy Bear took his first steps, swang on a swing for the first time, and met his first ‘friends,’ all by the jungle gym at Mercy-Bush. It’s sort of like the parental version of the shared TV room in a college dorm. Everything goes on there — people coming and going, you can see who’s with who, you can meet their kids, you can meet their parents and grandparents, you learn who gets home from work and when, and you can meet all the neighborhood nannies, too.
Mercy-Bush is like a tiny little oasis that reminds us that we can go outside and play every day. It’s an invitation to walk two blocks down the street and spend some time having a little fun, going down a slide or climbing on the monkey bars. (Mr. Busy isn’t old enough for this yet!)
Is it worth a visit if you don’t live nearby? I think so, if just to see the workings of a surprisingly idyllic neighborhood. It’s not the kind of place that a lot of people drive to, so if you do come and visit, you’ll get to meet all the local families, and get a brief feeling for what living in Silicon Valley could be like. Don’t hesitate to say Hi!
I like to think of Mercy-Bush as the gem of Old Mountain View, and I think the city does too… See you there!
