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Usually this Labor Day weekend is full of traditions that now are interrupted by this Covid virus. Whether we usually visit with extended family or friends, travel, barbecue or participate in one last summer blast, the shelter in place order disrupts our traditions and eliminates the positive impact these touch stones provide, Read more…

This ambitious strategic plan will ensure that over the next 20 years our neighborhood parks are a favorite and nearby destination, our regional parks represent the best of San José, our community centers are true hubs for community life, and that we continue to provide safer, cleaner neighborhoods. Attached are Read more…

A letter to Mayor Liccardo and City Councilmembers to direct all $20M unrestricted proceeds from the sale of the Public Soccer Complex land at 1123 Coleman to PRNS capital projects, selecting from the $320M infrastructure backlog as well as rehabilitation of sports fields throughout the City. [Click here for the Read more…

San Jose Parks Advocates opposes the use Arena Green Park for the Light Tower Corporation’s proposed art project.

We believe that :

• The site analysis report ctains fatal flaws
• The Arena Green Park site is too environmentally sensitive
• The proposed use is not compatible with existing policies, plans, and studies of Arena Green Park and this planning area,
• It will negatively impact the fundraising plan of a previously approved major city park redevelopment project, St. James and the Levitt Pavilion
• The proposal is based on a flawed assumption that the Light Tower Corporation’s open, uncompensated art contest will lead to great art.
• A “free gift” should not take park land from a park deficient area nor require the use of City Park Trust funds to produce the site analysis, provide uncompensated Senior Management time, nor should complete of the project require future park trust fund/development fees or Google Community benefit funds. We ask that the Council reject the site analysis and ask the proponents to fully fund their gift by compensating the city for all expenses and by buying a site rather than taking parkland from a park deficient area. San Jose Parks Advocates is an all-volunteer organization of neighborhood leaders and community members concerned about San Jose parks. Our mission is to bring parks into the public political consciousness, to make parks an issue in all discussions of civic priorities, neighborhood services, and community interactions with the City of San Jose. We envision a City where quality parks and trails for all of its residents is universally supported as a core City service. Civic leaders will develop, enhance, and maintain these spaces as a source of civic pride and essential to the health and quality of life of the residents, workers, and visitors.

Speakers: Mollie Tobias, Program Manager, Volunteer services, City of San Jose Pat Pizzo, Project Manager, Native Plant Islands, Fontana Park Greg Pizzo, Los Paseos Neighborhood Association Marsey Kahn and Jennifer Roberts, Thousand Oaks Park Water Troubles: Soaring Costs, Old Irrigation Equipment, Stressed Trees, Unusable Turf The City parks are using 20% Read more…

Wednesday November 8, 2017 Calabasas Library Community Room – 7pm 1230 South Blaney Avenue near Rainbow Ave. We’ll learn about grass root organizing from an award-winning expert, Deb Kramer of Keep Coyote Beautiful. Followed by an introduction to POPOs—privately owned public open spaces. Then we’ll set this year’s advocacy agenda. Read more…

Park Advocates efforts paid off this year as the City Council approved this 2017-18 budget.  Nine new “boots on the ground” positions were added to the maintenance division. With new hiring procedures led by Park staff, the backlog of 41 vacancies is disappearing quickly.  It’s not clear how the new positions will Read more…

San Jose Parks Advocates offers these comments on the proposed operating and capital budgets for FY 2017-18. Thank-you for the transparency and prompt posting of all proposals. Members of our group attended many of the budget meetings throughout the City and asked and received answers to their questions. [Entire Letter Read more…