July 27, 2007

District 8 Report

Fowler Creek Park to open in District 8 on Aug. 4

By San Jose Vice Mayor Dave Cortese
Special to the Times

The Evergreen/East Hills/Silver Creek area of San Jose is already home to some of the city’s most beautiful family-serving parks, and continued good fortune is in store for our green spaces. I am excited to share that on Saturday, Aug. 4, a brand new 12-acre park will open in the southeast part of District 8, called Fowler Creek Park. This park has been long anticipated by residents and it is one I have personally worked closely on with city staff and the community to help bring to fruition.

Fowler Creek Park is located along the Evergreen Hills between Cortona Drive and Michelangelo Drive, near Chaboya Middle School. It offers:

- Separate playgrounds for tots and youths

- Water play area

- Family picnic area

- Restrooms

- Two bocce ball courts

- Three tennis courts

- Hillside overlook with stunning 360 degree views

- Hillside slide (to be opened September 2007)

- Forty off-street parking spaces

- Expansive lawns for lounging

The park will eventually house an 8,000 square foot community center, a swim center and other amenities, as funding becomes available.

This park has been in the making since 1988, when the City Council prepared the Fowler Creek Park Master Plan. It underwent some property adjustments in 1991 (as part of the Evergreen Specific Plan) but unfortunately the land itself sat idle as the construction of nearly 3,000 new homes sprang up around it. When I came into office in January 2001, I quickly worked with staff to resolve some property issues involving the land and then we went out to the community to reaffirm that the proposed park features were representative of the community’s wishes. The surrounding neighborhoods have been instrumental in making this park a reality and I am grateful for their vigilance. The park before you now is the fruit of such labors.

I invite the entire district to gather on Saturday, Aug. 4 at 11:30 a.m. to cut the ribbon for this new park. There will be refreshments, face painting, spin art, a bounce house and of course the park itself to enjoy – not a bad way to spend a Saturday. Come celebrate this latest addition to our green space family and celebrate the joint efforts that made it possible. For more information, contact the District 8 Council Office at (408) 535-4908. In the meanwhile, I wish you and your families a pleasant summer.

P.S. There are other exciting changes to District 8 parks – contact my office for details:

- Falls Creek Park – tentative groundbreaking Fall 2007

- New monument tribute to JJ Montgomery inside Evergreen Park (San Felipe/Yerba Buena Roads) – tentative opening late Fall 2007

- Playground improvements at Welch Park – tentative groundbreaking early 2008

- New 40,000 square foot skatepark at Lake Cunningham Regional Park – tentative opening Spring 2008