Citywide and Regional Strategies CHAPTER 5

San Jose's citywide and regional parks protect and interpret the Park and the San Jose Holiday Parade, are attended by the City's natural and cultural resources for the enjoyment of thousands of Bay Area residents and tourists. These special all residents. Citywide/regional facilities have unique fea- events represent the interests and diversity of the community, tures that attract visitors from throughout the City and provide positive family activities, and promote a positive region. These facilities are managed, operated and main- image of San Jose's quality of life. tained by Conventions, Arts and Entertainment, Visitor " We need meaningful Services & Facilities Division. Varying in size, these parks The core service areas of Visitor Services & Facilities activities for the provide both passive and active recreation and may include: Division are to: well-being of youth § Trails and park chains; § Manage, operate and market regional parks, gardens, and and seniors." § Cultural heritage gardens; special attractions; § Zoo; § Plan and implement capital improvement projects for § Museums and historic sites; these facilities; § Amusement parks; § Provide Park Ranger Services, such as rules enforcement, § Golf courses; educational outreach programs, park conservation § Hillside open space; activities, fire suppression, and visitor services; § Lakes and water activities; and § Foster and develop partner organizations and community § A variety of special events and celebrations hosted in input processes; and regional facilities. § Administer and produce special events in regional parks.

The Visitor Services & Facilities Division of Conventions, This chapter provides specific citywide and regional strategies Arts and Entertainment also provides a large variety of pro- for each strategy category described in Chapter 2. These grams and services within the City's regional parks and com- strategy categories include the following: munity facilities, including operation of special attractions, reservations, interpretive programs, fee activities, and San § Programs and Services; Jose Family Camp. Park Rangers offer interpretive programs § Parks and Open Space; in parks, schools, and at special events. In 1998, over 24,000 youth participated in 800 programs offered by Park § City-wide Trails; Rangers in city schools. Special events, such as Christmas in § Recreation Facilities;

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§ Public Outreach; and Special Event Program and Permits § Resource Development. A6. Maintain the special event permit system to ensure that parks accommodate both event use and informal A. Programs and Services use. Park Ranger Services A7. Develop a 10- to 20-acre special event site to A1. Increase Park Ranger Services to support the accommodate 5,000 to 100,000 people in downtown addition of new parks and facilities. The following San Jose. The area should provide a combination of goal for staffing is recommended: turf and hardscape, adequate parking, event infra- § One Park Ranger to 50 developed acres for parks structure, and good regional access. with an annual visitation rate of 300,000+ and complex park operations, such as fee collection, Christmas in the Park parking operations, and visitor services programs. A8. Work with the Christmas in the Park non-profit One additional Park Ranger would be added for organization and continue development of the pro- each 100,000 annual visitors above the 300,000- gram and display. visitor standard. § One Park Ranger to 250 undeveloped acres or 20 San Jose Holiday Parade miles of trails, property or open space. A9. Increase sponsorships for parade units. A10.Acquire a title sponsor. Park Reservations A11.Continue "Live" television coverage. A2. Increase the number of reservable picnic sites in A12.Continue community involvement and high quality regional parks without creating a negative impact to parade units. the site. A3. Develop two additional large corporate picnic areas to Regional Park Programs and Services accommodate 500 to 1,000 people. A13.Expand regional park programs and services to A4. Include reservable picnic sites in all future regional support visitors including: park master plans where feasible. § Day and summer camps A5. Implement a computerized parks reservation system § Education centers that can be accessed via the internet to improve § Water features and pools customer service. § Happy Hollow Zoo

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§ Museums restrooms, and connecting pathways. § Cultural gardens § Concessions Elements of the Master Plan yet to be developed § RV parks include: § Park Ranger Services § An additional group picnic area and a smaller § Fishing family picnic area on the east side. § Special events § The ribbon of turf along the east shoreline running § Sailing from the parking lot to the northeast corner of the park. § Open water swimming § Play areas on the east side. § Golf § The marina complex, including boat rental, floating § Amusement park docks and a launch ramp on the east side. § Family camp § Permanent maintenance and ranger offices. B. Parks and Open Space § A bridge near the existing Coleman vehicle bridge. Complete Existing Citywide/Regional Park Master Plans B2. Complete the Alum Rock Park Master Plan. B1. Complete the Almaden Lake Park Master Plan. The following elements of the Master Plan have been The following elements of the Master Plan have been completed: completed: § The trail element, including reduction of 7miles of § East side park development, including parking, trails and renovation of 13 miles of existing trails. restrooms, two group picnic areas, open turf areas § Visitor Center. and an entrance station. Concrete pathways § Renovation of the Mineral Springs area. connect the features. A pedestrian bridge over Los § Approximately 500 parking spaces. Alamitos Creek links the east side to the west side of the park. The following elements of the Master Plan have yet to § West side park development, including parking, be completed: picnic areas, a swim beach and turf strip, open turf § A main entrance on the west boundary at areas, an entrance station, a large play area, Penitencia Creek Road.

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§ Establishment of an alternate route for residents and maintenance yard. living off Alum Rock Falls Road. § A restroom, additional picnic area, pergola, and § An interpretive center in the quarry area. pathways. § Restroom renovations. § A main park entrance, including the "Train § A new maintenance facility. Station" gateway and additional parking. § Saddlebrook Street improvements, including B3. Complete the Edenvale Garden Park Master Plan. planting, sidewalk, and fencing. § The arboretum orientation area and trail The following elements of the Master Plan have been connections. completed: § A parking lot that services both the park and the B4. Pursue the approval of Guadalupe Gardens Master conference center. Plan. § Paved pathways throughout the park. § An active-use area that includes 3 tennis courts, a The Master Plan has not yet been adopted pending sand volleyball court, and a picnic area. FAA and City Council approval. § A public art area. § Landscape and irrigation, including formal lawns, The following elements of the Master Plan are described below to provide an overview of the draft ornamental shrubs, trees and ground cover. Master Plan. § Demonstration gardens with educational themes, The following elements of the Master Plan have yet to such as agricultural or landscaping techniques. be completed: § Community gardens for use by residents or local § Park infrastructure improvements, including schools. utilities, grading, drainage, and additional parking § A garden center structure, which will be used as a lots. visitor center and office space. § The pond, boardwalk, island, and multipurpose § A grass meadow. meadow area. § Street landscaping along street frontages or major § The play area, amphitheater, maintenance building thoroughfares.

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§ Parking orchards - small islands of parking that will B6. Complete the Kelley Park Master Plan. provide access to key use areas. This park also includes the Japanese Friendship § A pathway system linking key use areas and Garden, Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, and History providing access to Guadalupe River Park. Park, which have individual master plans. This § Educational facilities that interpret park features, strategy highlights overall Kelley Park improvements. wildlife, or other environmental topics. Improvements to areas within the park that have § Park maintenance facilities. individual master plans are listed as separate strategies.

B5. Complete the Guadalupe River Park and Garden The following elements of the Master Plan have been Master Plan. completed: § Ongoing infrastructure renovations and upgrades, The following elements of the Master Plan have been including turf and irrigation in main picnic areas. completed: § A major water filtration and recirculation system § Discovery Meadow and Arena Green event venues. for the koi ponds in the Japanese Friendship § A paved riverwalk running the length of the Garden. developed park. § Redesign and renovation of the main parking lot § Sister Cities seating areas along the riverwalk. and entry road serving developed areas on the § Veteran's memorial. west side of Coyote Creek. § The Carousel, children's play area, Skater's Art and § A new parking lot and entry on the west side of Visitor Center at Arena Green. Coyote Creek. § Park landscaping in developed areas. § Restroom and maintenance shop replacement adjacent to the Japanese Friendship Garden The following elements of the Master Plan have yet to (under construction in 2000). be completed: § Installation of the historic trolley track along Senter § The Monopoly in the Park theme garden. Road. § Water flow and recreational improvements between § Recycled water system for landscape irrigation. St. John Street and Coleman Avenue. § The McEnery Park water theme children's play The following elements of the Master Plan have yet to area. be completed: § An additional play area at Arena Green. § Demolition, grading, capping, drainage, and fill to

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close the Roberts Avenue landfill. The following elements of the Master Plan have yet to § Development on the east side of Coyote Creek, be completed: including frontage improvements, parking lots, § Interim improvements, including the gift shop, lighting, walkways, bridges, picnic areas, a natural infrastructure elements, utilities, special event area, science exhibit, a cultural heritage garden, rest- lighting, and signature ride. rooms, shade structures, entry kiosks, signs, plant- § Amusement area improvements, including site ing, and irrigation. preparation, infrastructure elements, utilities, rest § Development of neighborhood-serving amenities, rooms, snack bar, amusements and rides, train including grading, drainage, play areas, pathways, station, puppet theater/amphitheater, paving, planting, irrigation, and lighting. fencing, and control gates. § Development on the west side of the Coyote Creek, § Zoo area expansion and improvement, including including a levee, pathways and equestrian trail, site preparation, infrastructure elements, utilities, entry plaza, signs, lighting, planting renovation, animal exhibits, animal holding and isolation areas, historic Kelley House renovation, restroom staff area, maintenance facility, animal health care building, and other amenities. building, restrooms, Tree of Life and interpretive center, paving, fencing, and landscaping. B7. Complete the Happy Hollow Park and Zoo Master § A new entry area, including site preparation, Plan. administration/education building, entry gate, gift shop, café, plaza paving, landscaping, and related The following elements of the Master Plan have been amenities. completed: § A flood protection berm between the zoo and § Ongoing infrastructure renovations. Coyote Creek. § Upgrades to amusement rides. § Improvements to the existing zoo, including site § New and renovated zoo exhibits. preparation, utilities, commissary building, § A new food and beverage concession facility. maintenance/office building, restrooms, and § Expansion of the zoo service area. paving. § Upgrade of animal care facilities. § Improvements to administrative work areas and maintenance facilities. § A corporate picnic area.

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B8. Complete the History Park Master Plan. B9. Complete Lake Cunningham Park Master Plan.

The following elements of the Master Plan have been The following elements of the Master Plan have been completed: completed: § Ongoing infrastructure renovations and upgrades. § General park development, including park § The Portuguese Imperio. entrances, turf, trees, landscaping, corporate picnic § Relocation and renovation of the Santa Ana one- facility, picnic areas, restrooms, marina, concession room schoolhouse. building, pathways, roads, parking and mainte- § Recycled water system for landscape irrigation. nance facilities. § Relocation and Phase I renovation of the historic § Raging Waters water theme park, including water Hill House. slides and attractions, restrooms and showers, § Interior renovations to the historic Markham concessions, amphitheater, and beach areas. House (currently underway). § Approximately 50% of the planned perimeter landscaping. The following elements of the Master Plan have yet to § Perimeter road connection. be completed: § Construction of the bridge, linking current and § Museum mission improvements, including archives future parking areas. and collection facility, retail and interpretive shops, § Additional parking area (currently underway). Greenawalt House tenant improvements, and § Prominent visual landmarks with a water-related miscellaneous buildings. theme have been constructed at park entrances. § Facility improvements, including large and small group picnic areas, parking, entrance plaza and The following elements of the Master Plan have yet to amphitheater, visitor center, irrigation improve- be completed: ments, and orchard/vineyard zones enhancement. § Perimeter landscaping. § Enhanced museum experience improvements, § An emergency access road. including completion of downtown zones, city hall § Swim lagoon. replica, plaza expansion, and food service facilities. § Amphitheater. § Restroom.

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§ Park headquarters building. B11.Complete the Overfelt Gardens Master Plan. § Food concessions building. The following elements of the Master Plan have been B10.Complete the Municipal Rose Garden Master Plan. completed: § Turf, trees, shrubs, pathways, restrooms, irrigation, The following elements of the Master Plan have been an information kiosk, palm grove wedding area, completed: rose garden, iris garden, and memorial fountain. § New and renovated irrigation systems. § The Chinese Cultural Garden, including the § Replacement of old site furnishings with Victorian Friendship Gate, the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall, architectural style benches, drinking fountains, and the Chiang Kai-Shek Pavilion, the Plum Pavilion, trash receptacles. and the statue of the Chinese philosopher Confucius. The following elements of the Master Plan have yet to § Three percolation ponds covering five acres. be completed: § Planting of the California Wild Area to create § A restroom building on the south side of the Rose wildlife habitat. Garden that will be consistent with the park's historic character and fully handicapped accessible. The following elements of the Master Plan have yet to § Renovation of the existing Men's room as a be completed: maintenance/storage building. § Site improvements, including grading, earthwork, § Decorative paving through the center of the park. utilities, irrigation, planting, and park amenities. § Antique style security lighting. § Conservatory. § Stage restoration. § Botanical center, including an administration § Removal of the existing chain link fence, which will building, library, and conference building. be replaced with fencing that matches the character § Demonstration gardens, including display pavilion, of the ornate fencing at the Naglee entrance. Overfelt House renovation, greenhouses, and research building. § Orientation/observation decks.

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B12.Complete the Prusch Park Master Plan. § Heirloom vegetable garden. The following elements of the Master Plan have been § Grape arbor and gazebo. completed: § Renovation of the farmhouse and construction of Additional Citywide/Regional Parks the meeting hall, barn and animal pens, B13.Acquire additional citywide/regional parks in community gardens, agricultural areas, plant science Evergreen, West San Jose, Downtown, and Coyote education facilities, picnic areas, open turf and Valley. landscaping, irrigation, pathways and parking areas. B14.Expand Alum Rock Park. § Construction of the Ethel and William Prusch, Jr. B15.Acquire and develop citywide/regional parks in the Multi-Cultural Arts Center. Urban Reserve Area in the Coyote and Almaden § Relocation of the LeFevre House and Carriage Barn Areas. to Prusch Park in 1990 (Renovation of these B16.Develop a store/counter space at the New City Hall structures is pending future funding allocations). for public outreach. B17.Develop a new citywide/regional park, Recreation and The following elements of the Master Plan have yet Wellness Center for persons with disabilities, or a to be completed: sports complex at Tully Stables. § Renovation of the LeFevre House for public use, B18.Develop a sports complex at Singleton landfill. including farm area, demonstration kitchen, gift B19.Preserve hillsides for open space and recreational use. shop, and caretaker quarters. § Renovation of the Carriage Barn for farm C.Citywide Trails equipment storage and blacksmith demonstrations. § Knox Avenue realignment, fencing, and C1. Work with other agencies to establish a connected landscaping. regional trail system that provides over 100 miles of § Permanent parking lot improvements adjacent to trails. the Multi-Cultural Arts Center. C2. Add recreational amenities along the trail corridors, § Play area. such as benches, water fountains, and call boxes. § Expansion of the existing parking lot.

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D.Recreation Facilities E.Public Outreach D1. Partner with Santa Clara County and the Santa Clara E1. Increase ranger and zoo interpretive outreach Valley Water District to develop additional amenities programs at schools and neighborhood centers to at Hellyer and Penitencia Creek Parks. provide environmental education and promote D2. Partner with community colleges and San Jose State regional facilities. University to develop recreational facilities, including the possibility of a Recreation and Wellness Center F.Resource Development for persons with disabilities. Forming partnerships with non-profit organizations is one of D3. Acquire and develop a dedicated site for large festivals. the basic philosophies that guided the development of the D4. Expand and improve festival sites throughout the Visitor Services & Facilities Division a decade ago and it City. continues to guide its current operations. There are three D5. Develop additional reservable group picnic areas. basic strategies that guide these partnerships: D6. Develop a citywide sports complex to provide softball and soccer opportunities. F1. Develop partnerships that provide direct benefits to D7. Develop a sailing facility at Lake Cunningham. an existing facility, such as fundraising programs and D8. Develop open water swimming at Lake Almaden. capital improvements.An example is the Happy D9. Develop a water theme park in west San Jose. Hollow Corporation and its work in fundraising D10.Expand Happy Hollow Park and Zoo. through the annual Snowfest and Fun Run events, D11.Renovate San Jose Family Camp. zoo membership program, and rental of strollers. These funds are applied back to the park and zoo to Golf Facilities support capital improvements, training of staff, and D12.Complete development of the Tuers-Capitol Golf marketing activities. The Division has several existing Course. partnerships of this type: D13.Develop a feasibility study of area demographics, § Prusch Foundation and its efforts in assisting the player participation rates, market area competition, Division in realizing the vision of Emma Prusch; and comparable facilities to identify the market for § The Friends of the Guadalupe River Park and golf facilities prior to any further golf course Gardens in developing community awareness and development. support for the City's newest recreational and flood control facility;

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§ The Friends of Family Camp who work with the offers free fishing instruction and clinics to youth City on major capital improvement projects and and their families at parks throughout the state. fundraising for a campership program to send § Youth Science Institute, located in Alum Rock families to this facility in Tuolumne County; and Park, offers educational programs and activities § Christmas in the Park non-profit organization centered on the park's unique habitat and whose mission is to fundraise and support an environment. annual exhibit of holiday-themed animated displays § History San Jose manages and operates the Fallon in the City's premier downtown park, Plaza de Peralta complex in downtown San Jose and History Cesar Chavez. Park, located on the southern end of Kelley Park. § San Jose Sharks organization (Arena Management) F2. Develop partnerships for service or program provision provides for the maintenance and operation of the and/or facility management. In some cases, the City carousel located in the Arena Green section of receives some financial compensation. Examples of Guadalupe River Park. The carousel was made this type of partnership include: possible through a generous donation by the Sharks § The San Jose Giants manage and operate the Foundation. Municipal Stadium. When home games are not played here, the Giants rent the stadium for com- F3. Develop partnerships with non-profit cultural munity events, concerts and other athletic events. organizations for the development of unique facilities § The Hayes Renaissance Conference Center is representing various cultures. Examples include: operated and managed by the Network Conference § The Cultural Heritage Garden Program began with Company. This partnership began with the the Japanese Friendship Garden constructed over rehabilitation and renovation of the historic Hayes 40 years ago to commemorate the City's sister city Mansion. The facility provides needed meeting and of Okayama, Japan. Its most recent addition is the function space for small to mid-sized groups, and is Mexican Heritage Garden and Plaza. Staff is available for community and other special events. currently developing a Vietnamese Cultural § Raging Waters, a water-themed recreational facility, Heritage Garden, working with plans for the leases a portion of Lake Cunningham Park and Vietnamese community. returns annual rental payments to the City. § The Ng Shing Gung Temple was entirely under- § Fishing in the City, a publicly supported program, written by the non-profit Chinese Historical

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Cultural Project organization. The temple is a § Swimming; replica of a temple that once stood in San Jose's § Fishing; and Chinatown, but was destroyed by fire. This replica § Sailing. building is on the grounds of History Park, a 14- acre facility that reconstructs and presents an earlier Detailed Improvements period of the City's history. Twenty-year costs for citywide and regional capital improvements and maintenance are provided in Appendices B and Other Resource Development Strategies C. A ten-year plan for staffing is provided in Appendix D. During the development of the strategic plan, the following additional strategies for resource development were identified:

F4. Raise funds to repair the large inventory of historic structures within the regional park system. F5. Establish a grant writer staff position for regional parks and special facilities. F6. Encourage private development and operation of new facility types, such as an extreme sports center, water recreation facility, etc. F7. Update the business plan for special use facilities to determine how to create revenue streams that will support facility upgrades and expanded use for environmental education and youth development, such as: § Happy Hollow Park Zoo; § Municipal Golf Course; § Family camp; § Summer camps;

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