Facilities & Programs CHAPTER 4_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CHAPTER 4 Facilities & Programs The City operates and maintains a wide array of San José Family Camp recreation facilities to provide a high quality of life Non-City owned parks and recreation facilities in San José. Under the direction of the Parks, include land owned by Santa Clara County Recreation and Neighborhood Services Open Space Authority (OSA), Santa Clara Department (PRNS), the City provides and County Parks and Recreation, Santa Clara manages approximately 3,520 acres of parks Valley Water District (SCVWD) and various (regional/city-wide and neighborhood/ School Districts community), community gardens and open space lands. In addition, the City has plans for Following is a partial list of the programs and implementation to bestow over a 100-mile services the Department is currently responsible network of multi-use trails and greenways. PRNS for or participates in: also provides management for over 50 community facilities to serve the indoor recreational needs of a Mayors Gang Prevention Task Force growing urban population. Youth Intervention Services Safe School Campus Initiative (SSCI) Following is a list of these City and non-City Striving Towards Achievement with New owned and managed facilities: Direction (STAND) Clean Slate Parks San José Bringing Everyone’s Strengths Neighborhood/Community Parks Together (BEST) Citywide/Regional Parks After School Programs and Homework Centers Trails Network Services for Persons with Disabilities Sports Fields Senior Programs Community Centers Adopt-A-Park/Adopt-A-Trail Aquatic Facilities Anti-Graffiti/Anti-Litter Programs Community Gardens Christmas in the Park Skate Parks Healthy Neighborhoods Venture Fund (HNVF) Dog Parks San José Holiday Parade Open Space (Undeveloped lands) School/City Collaborative Golf Facilities Sports Facility Reservations and League Play CITY OF SAN JOSE GREENPRINT 47 2009 Strategic Plan Update Facilities & Programs CHAPTER 4 Youth Sports parks totaling approximately 31 acres within the Various Special Events next six years and another 30 acres by the year 2020. The goal of the Greenprint is to provide a balanced and equitable parks and recreation Neighborhood/Community Parks system that will provide activities for all age San José residents depend upon neighborhood and groups in the City. These activities include active community parks for most of their day-to-day and passive, organized and unorganized, recreation needs. A wide range of outdoor programmed and un-programmed, which satisfy recreation facilities are available including, but not Fowler Creek Park, City of San José the needs and desires of all age groups—pre- limited to, basketball, tennis and volleyball courts, school children, school age children, youth, young exercise courses, diamond and rectangular athletic adults, adults and seniors—through recreation fields and picnic areas. Parks include playgrounds programs and facilities. Following are the with equipment for youth of all ages. These parks facilities the City operates and maintains. are open from sunrise to one hour after sunset. Due to the high cost to operate, maintain and Parks construct permanent restrooms in City parks, it is The City of San José has over 180 neighborhood/ the policy of the Department to only recommend community serving parks and nine (9) Citywide/ permanent restroom installations in community regional parks in its inventory, offering everything serving parks over five (5) acres in size which from playgrounds and basketball courts to include amenities for the broader community such walkways and quiet areas for relaxation. The as a reservable sports field, a skate park and/or a majority of the park system in San José was built dog park. in the 1960s and 1970s. About 25 percent of the parks have been built since 1980. Since the Citywide/Regional Parks approval of the Greenprint in 2000, 30 new San José’s citywide and regional parks offer neighborhood/community park sites have been diverse features and visitor facilities, from natural added totaling approximately 84.5 acres. Another settings for outdoor recreation, to cultural heritage 106 acres have been acquired for future park buildings and gardens, to festival sites for large development. In addition, developers have also community events. San José’s citywide and agreed to construct and dedicate 8 new regional parks and gardens also interpret the City’s neighborhood/community 48 CITY OF SAN JOSE GREENPRINT 2009 Strategic Plan Update CHAPTER 4 Facilities & Programs natural and cultural history for the enjoyment of parking, permanent maintenance facilities and all residents and visitors. Citywide/regional ranger offices. The goal for the north end of the facilities have unique features that attract visitors park is to complete the trail connection from the from throughout the Bay Area. Varying in size, existing pedestrian bridge to the west shore, thus these parks provide both passive and active allowing a person to walk or ride around the entire recreation that may include: lake. Cultural heritage gardens Alum Rock Park has 718.9 acres and is Japanese Friendship Garden, Museums and historic sites California’s first and oldest City park, dedicated City of San José Amusement parks and zoo on March 18, 1872. The park is located within the Golf Courses and natural canyons Alum Rock Canyon, in the foothills of the Diablo Lakes with outdoor water activities Mountain Range on the east side of the City. The park provides visitors over 700 acres of natural The following description highlights some of San rugged beauty, outdoor activities, including hiking, José’s citywide/regional parks and gardens, which horseback riding, bicycling and picnicking. The require additional improvements: park is home to wildlife, including mountain lions, bobcats, deer and other small animals. The Almaden Lake Park has 64.9 acres and is the headwaters of Penitencia Creek are found within only park featuring a sand beach and natural swim the park. This park has had a very colorful history area in the South Bay. Many visitors come to of recreation uses including a natatorium and relax and enjoy the recreation opportunities dance hall pavilion. Access to the park was once including fishing, sailing, or non-motorized provided by electric trolley system. The park could boating on its 32-acre lake. A small boat launch benefit from major renovations of its existing ramp is available for public use for boats under 16 facilities, especially the interpretive center in the feet in length. Picnic areas and tables are scattered quarry area. throughout the park for family or company picnics. The park includes children play areas, Edenvale Garden Park has 14.5 acres and it was volleyball courts, horseshoe pits and bocce ball once part of the former Frontier Village courts. The goal is to expand the park to the south Amusement Park. The goal of the park master to provide an additional group picnic area, plan is to provide recreation space that will CITY OF SAN JOSE GREENPRINT 49 2009 Strategic Plan Update Facilities & Programs CHAPTER 4 complement current and future uses of the adjacent park offers a variety of educational programs for Hayes Mansion. Since the park opened in 1990, a school children and other groups, and hosts a number of improvements have taken place, Summer Camp during the months of June through including the tennis courts, a sand volleyball court, August. The City is reviewing the water usage picnic areas, a children’s play area, public art area associated with development of the agricultural and restrooms. The park master plan calls for the fields for either vegetables or orchards. The park additional development of a pond, boardwalk, master plan calls for the completion of the interior island, multipurpose meadow area, amphitheater, of the Carriage Barn for farm equipment storage additional picnic facilities, a main park entrance to and blacksmith demonstrations, landscaping on include a proposed “Train Station,” general Knox Avenue, connection of the windmill to the landscaping improvements to give the area an well and construction of a maintenance yard. arboretum orientation and a maintenance yard. Guadalupe Gardens has 120 acres and grew from Emma Prusch Farm Memorial Park has 39.8 the development of Norman Y. Mineta San Jose acres and is in the midst of a bustling city. International Airport. Most of the Guadalupe Visitors to the park can experience a bit of San Gardens falls under the Federal Aviation José's rich agricultural past. The park was once Administration’s (FAA) established safety zone part of an 86-acre dairy farm owned by Emma called an “Extended Object Free Area.” Any land Prusch, who donated this land to the City in uses that would compromise the approach zone 1962. San José's largest barn is now home to protection, such as placement of structures, everything from sheep, pigs and steer to ducks, concentrations of people, major changes to the chickens, geese and rabbits. The park also features ground topography, or features that could attract vintage farm equipment, robust community birds, are serious concerns to the Airport and the gardens, a rare fruit orchard featuring over 100 FAA. Although subject to high noise levels and varieties of fruit trees from all over the world, and land use restrictions, the presence of such an acres of open grass perfect for picnicking, kite