June 3, 2005

Families flock to Canyon Creek Park grand opening

Local police officers join Councilmember Dave Cortese (left); Eliza Finley, city of San Jose, District 8 youth commissioner; Debra Murphy, SCVCO Parks Committee chair, Lou Kvitek, SCVCO president; former ABC-7 News South Bay Bureau Chief Rigo Chacon and Special Events Coordinator Demetria Adams at the grand opening of Canyon Creek Park.

The grand opening of Canyon Creek Park, with its panoramic views and serene setting, delighted the families who attended on Saturday, May 7.

Located at San Felipe Road and Larkspur Canyon Drive, this 1.2-acre park in Evergreen offers many amenities for families. A climbing structure, swings, comfortable seating, a shade structure and an open grassy area are just a few of those features.

For those who want to take in the view of the rolling hills of Evergreen, there is a well-lit walking loop. The centerpiece of the park, a polished granite globe of the Earth that floats on water on its granite pedestal, adds the finishing touch.

“The park’s globe fountain is a perfect representation of the tremendous diversity of Council District 8—everyone should visit and enjoy!” said San Jose City Councilmember Dave Cortese.

Face painting provided by the Evergreen Community Center, the San Jose Police Department’s Mounted Unit and the Fire Department’s personnel and equipment filled the day with activities for all ages.

Canyon Creek Park, located at San Felipe Road and Larkspur Canyon Drive, offers panoramic views and a serene setting for adults and plenty of playground equipment and room to play for the kids.

Many community businesses sponsored the grand opening with refreshments and other contributions, including Megabyte Pizza, Casa Castillo Restaurant, Kerry Sexton—Windermere Properties, Leola Watkins—Washington Mutual, Nicole Trieu—Century 21 Alpha, Lucy Chacon—Intero Real Estate, Orthodontist Dr. Tillmanns, Pediatrician Dr. Sathappan and Stacey Henley-Montgomery of MacDonald’s Restaurant.

Local resident Rigo Chacon, former ABC-7 News South Bay Bureau Chief, introduced Councilmember Cortese; Lou Kvitek, Silver Creek Valley Community Organization (SCVCO) president; Debra Murphy, SCVCO Parks Committee chair; and Eliza Finley, city of San Jose District 8 youth commissioner.

“The mission of the Silver Creek Valley Community Organization is to serve, promote, and protect the community interests of Silver Creek Valley through volunteer efforts. This park is an excellent example of those efforts,” said Debra Murphy.

Community member Elsbeth McCann added, “I think that the park is a wonderful place for kids and parents alike. It’s just what our community needs—a place where we can all get together, relax and have fun!”

While the park property had been set aside by developers several years ago, the development of the park did not take off until last summer. That’s when community members met with Councilmember Cortese and his District 8 staff, and the city of San Jose Department of Parks, Recreation & Neighborhood Services to master plan the neighborhood park.

Silver Creek Valley Community Organization developed a Parks Committee to support this project and help see it through to completion ahead of schedule in a true collaborative effort between the community and city government, according to Murphy.