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; CITY OF SAN JOSÉ GREENPRINT 42 Strategic Plan Citywide and Regional Strategies CHAPTER 5 § 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 43 CITY OF SAN JOSÉ GREENPRINT Strategic Plan Citywide and Regional Strategies CHAPTER 5 § 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. CITY OF SAN JOSÉ GREENPRINT 44 Strategic Plan Citywide and Regional Strategies CHAPTER 5 § 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. 45 CITY OF SAN JOSÉ GREENPRINT Strategic Plan Citywide and Regional Strategies CHAPTER 5 § 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