Foundation gifts $1.17 million for splash pad
Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation is gifting $1.17 million to the city of Los Altos to establish a “splash pad” at a location of the city’s choosing.
Crysta Krames, foundation interim executive director, said the funds had been raised toward placing a community pool and a splash pad, but “the pool was ultimately deemed infeasible.”
The foundation, she said, worked with fund advisors to offer the money in a “public-private partnership to build a local splash pad.” A splash pad is a water play area that usually has spraying water and is often a staple of public parks.
Krames made the announcement as part of a presentation of foundation activities during a Nov. 12 Los Altos City Council appearance. Krames said the foundation made 125 grants, and overall, contributed $3.4 million in grants over the past year.
There was no discussion last week on possible sites for the splash pad.
Ted Olson, conservative counsel who defended gay marriage
Ted Olson, a 1958 Los Altos High School graduate who went on to a celebrated legal career and became a star player in Republican politics, died Nov. 13. No cause of death has been given.
Olson was involved in some of the most impactful cases in recent decades. These included a win for George W. Bush in the 2000 Florida presidential election recount dispute.
He also won a 2009 case in the fight for same-sex marriage, a decision that overturned California’s anti-gay marriage Proposition 8. The initiative was ultimately deemed unconstitutional. Olson said the case was “the most important thing I’ve ever done, as an attorney or a person.”
Bush made Olson his solicitor general, a post he held 2001-2004. He also worked for the Justice Department during the Reagan administration.
– Town Crier Reports
