Belle Haven is a residential neighborhood in eastern Menlo Park, located between U.S. 101, Willow Road, and the Dumbarton rail corridor. The neighborhood sits near Meta's campus and the Menlo Park Bayfront, with direct access to Highway 101 and the Dumbarton Bridge.
Much of Belle Haven was developed during the 1940s and 1950s. Its housing includes original single-story homes, remodeled properties, newer construction, and some multifamily housing, particularly along Willow Road.
Belle Haven's original housing stock is primarily made up of smaller Minimal Traditional and ranch-style homes built in the mid-20th century. Many properties have since been renovated, expanded, or replaced.
That creates considerable variation between homes. Existing square footage, lot size, condition, improvements, permit history, flood-zone status, and location within the neighborhood should all be considered when comparing properties.
For buyers considering substantial renovations or an expansion, reviewing the property's development constraints before purchasing provides a clearer picture of what the lot can support.
Belle Haven differs from many other Menlo Park neighborhoods because its public elementary and middle schools are within the Ravenswood City School District.
Belle Haven Elementary is located on Ivy Drive and serves transitional kindergarten through fifth grade. The district currently allows elementary students to choose among Belle Haven Elementary, Costaño School of the Arts, and Los Robles-Ronald McNair Academy. Students in grades six through eight attend César Chávez Ravenswood Middle School.
Belle Haven Elementary also completed the first phase of a major campus rebuild in December 2025.
High school assignment should be verified separately for the individual property address.
The Belle Haven Community Campus at 100 Terminal Avenue opened in May 2024. The 37,000-square-foot facility brings together the Belle Haven Library, Belle Haven Pool, youth and recreation programs, the Menlo Park Senior Center, and the Onetta Harris Community Center.
Directly behind the campus, 8.3-acre Kelly Park includes a full-size track, synthetic turf field, outdoor exercise equipment, tennis and pickleball courts, and a basketball court.
These facilities give Belle Haven a concentration of public recreation and community resources within the neighborhood itself.
Belle Haven sits next to Menlo Park's Bayfront area and Meta's campus. Meta Park is a publicly accessible 2.2-acre open space with a pedestrian and bicycle bridge across Bayfront Expressway that connects Belle Haven to the Bay Trail.
Nearby Bedwell Bayfront Park covers approximately 160 acres along San Francisco Bay. Its trail system is used for walking, running, bicycling, bird watching, and other outdoor recreation, and the 2.3-mile perimeter trail forms part of the San Francisco Bay Trail.
Flood risk should be evaluated at the individual-property level in Belle Haven.
The City of Menlo Park's neighborhood profile states that more than 60 percent of Belle Haven lies within a flood-hazard area. Properties may also be affected by FEMA floodplain requirements depending on their exact location.
The City is currently working on the SAFER Bay project, a regional shoreline effort designed to reduce tidal flooding and future sea-level-rise risk in Belle Haven and the Bayfront. Because flood maps and protection projects can change over time, buyers should review the current FEMA designation, insurance requirements, and City information for the specific parcel.
Belle Haven properties should be compared at the individual-home level rather than by neighborhood averages alone.
Buyers should review the home's condition, renovation and permit history, lot characteristics, school options, flood-zone designation, and proximity to U.S. 101, Willow Road, parks, and Bayfront connections.
For an older home where renovation or expansion is part of the plan, confirming zoning, floodplain requirements, setbacks, and other development constraints before making an offer can prevent surprises later. Understanding the property is only one part of preparing to buy. I also put together a guide to the Menlo Park Real Estate Terms Buyers Actually Ask About to help make the process easier to navigate.
Belle Haven's mix of original homes, remodeled properties, and newer construction makes the right preparation strategy property-specific.
Before completing major improvements, sellers should consider the home's current condition, lot, permitted improvements, nearby comparable sales, and the likely return from the proposed work. For some properties, targeted repairs and presentation may make more sense than extensive renovation. Because those factors can vary significantly from one Belle Haven property to another, I recommend evaluating the home on its individual characteristics rather than relying on neighborhood averages. If you're curious about your property's current value, you can request a home valuation based on the details that matter most to today's buyers.
Clear information about permits, improvements, flood-zone status, and the property's exact location can also help buyers evaluate the home more accurately. I've seen how well-prepared disclosures can help buyers better understand a property and make informed decisions. I share more about that process in my article, How Disclosure Strategy Impacts Final Sale Price in Menlo Park.
Belle Haven is in eastern Menlo Park, northeast of U.S. 101. The neighborhood is generally bounded by Highway 101, Willow Road, and the Dumbarton rail corridor.
Belle Haven is primarily made up of detached single-family homes. Much of the neighborhood was developed in the 1940s and 1950s, with many original Minimal Traditional and ranch-style homes alongside remodeled properties and newer construction.
Belle Haven is within the Ravenswood City School District for elementary and middle school. Belle Haven Elementary is located within the neighborhood, and the district currently provides several elementary-school options.
The Belle Haven Community Campus is a 37,000-square-foot public facility at 100 Terminal Avenue that opened in 2024. It includes a library, pool, recreation and fitness facilities, senior programs, and youth and community services.
Kelly Park is located directly behind the Belle Haven Community Campus. Belle Haven also has access to Meta Park, the Bay Trail, and nearby Bedwell Bayfront Park, a 160-acre open space on San Francisco Bay.
Yes. Belle Haven is directly adjacent to Meta's Menlo Park campus. Meta Park and its pedestrian and bicycle bridge also connect the neighborhood across Bayfront Expressway to the Bay Trail.
Yes, but the level of risk varies by property. The City reports that more than 60 percent of the neighborhood is within a flood-hazard area. Buyers and homeowners should check the current FEMA designation and applicable insurance or construction requirements for the specific parcel.
Buyers planning major improvements should review zoning, lot characteristics, permits, setbacks, floodplain requirements, and the existing structure before assuming an expansion or rebuild is feasible.
Belle Haven properties can differ considerably by age, condition, improvements, lot, flood-zone status, and location within the neighborhood. If you are considering buying, selling, renovating, or evaluating your home's value, my team and I can help you understand the factors specific to the property.
5,492 people live in Belle Haven - Menlo Park, where the median age is 35 and the average individual income is $50,254. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
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There's plenty to do around Belle Haven - Menlo Park, including shopping, dining, nightlife, parks, and more. Data provided by Walk Score and Yelp.
Explore popular things to do in the area, including Elite Swim Academy, and Alex Forman.
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| Active | 0.55 miles | 0 reviews | 0/5 stars | |
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Belle Haven - Menlo Park has 1,410 households, with an average household size of 4. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. Here’s what the people living in Belle Haven - Menlo Park do for work — and how long it takes them to get there. Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau. 5,492 people call Belle Haven - Menlo Park home. The population density is 14,131 and the largest age group is Data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau.
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Population Density Population Density This is the number of people per square mile in a neighborhood.
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