August 10, 2007

Here at last

Twenty years and much hard work finally yields Fowler
Creek Park at ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 4

By Carol Rosen
Staff Writer

Residents gather at Fowler Creek Park before the official grand opening on Saturday, August 4 in Evergreen. Photos by Dan Miranda

It took nearly 20 years, but finally the day arrived, as residents and dignitaries celebrated the opening of Fowler Creek Park, or at least phase one of the 12-acre park, on Aug. 4.

All told, a crowd of about 600 people were on hand to be part of the official first day, to use the park’s new facilities, and to get a look at the park’s striking 360-degree view of San Jose.

Ground was broken for the first of three phases of the park in April 2006. The 12-acre facility now offers a playground and tot lot, family picnic areas, three tennis courts and a practice wall, pathways and a pedestrian bridge, an overlook vista providing the 360-degree views, a sunrise terrace, a hillside slide, landscaping and lawns, lighting, drinking fountains, restrooms and on-site parking for 40 cars.

The concept for the park began in 1988 and was included in the master plan for the Evergreen Specific plan. Original plans called for 14 acres, but those were revised in 2002 to the current triangular shaped 12-acre parcel near Michelangelo Drive and Strada Circle overlooking the San Felipe foothills.

San Jose Vice Mayor Dave Cortese cuts the ribbon to Fowler Creek Park, signifying the official opening of the park in Evergreen.

Larry Braddock, president of the Friends of Fowler Creek Park, knew about the park back in the 1990s, but said he didn't get involved in the activities until 2002. "We got Dave [Cortese] involved, and Dave was interested in getting the park going," Braddock told the Times. "He helped us get formed and he helped us meet people from the Parks department that allowed us to get going. Through their help we were able to put together focus groups with the neighbors and then they helped to push the park too."

The plan was finally approved in 2003, after a large number of meetings between Cortese’s office, the city’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department as well as community members, including the Friends of Fowler Creek Park. The cost of Phase One was slightly less than $3.8 million.

“It’s a beautiful park, and it went up so quickly,” said former Parks Commission Chair Helen Chapman. The park proves that the council can apply a larger view for construction projects that includes amenities and green space; not just pocket parks, she added.

A dance group performs during the grand opening ceremony.

“Parks can be an economic engine, they actually enhance property values,” she told the Times.

Vice Mayor Dave Cortese, whose district includes Evergreen, made similar statements at the park opening. He suggested that just building homes isn’t enough, but that schools and parks are necessary to go with the homes. “This park should be an example of how to do it,” he said.

At the groundbreaking last year, Cortese praised both the city and committed residents such as the Friends of Fowler Creek Park for working diligently to ensure that the park would be built.

“I think it really is an excellent example of a partnership between City Hall and its own residents,” Cortese said during the groundbreaking ceremony for the park in April 2006. “This park wasn’t designed bureaucratically. On the other hand, design control wasn’t completely relinquished to people in the neighborhoods. It was truly a partnership.”

Borbora Kasanova, 15, gets the "Whisker Cat" painted on her face while her two friends Erika Vasquez and Monica Meschke, both 15-year-old Evergreen Valley High School students, look on during the grand opening ceremony of Fowler Creek Park on Saturday, August 4. Photos by Dan Miranda

The park is one of the few city greenscapes whose design and construction was funded entirely by property owners within the boundaries of the Evergreen Specific Plan. It is also the only park on San Jose’s east side to provide a public water play area, which is set for implementation in phase three.

The grand opening offered many activities for the numerous guests. Besides the San Jose Police Department’s Mounted Unit and representatives from the San Jose Fire Department, there was face painting, spin art, a bounce house, live entertainment and refreshments. In addition, there were several sponsors of the event include Intero Real Estate Services, Jamba Juice, Starbucks, the Friends of Fowler Park, Evergreen Hills Resident Action Group, the city of San Jose and Cortese’s office.

Among the other the speakers and guests were PRNS director Albert Balagso, District 8 Youth Commissioner Kevin Liao, Katy Allen and Mark Linder from the City Manager’s office and Captain Mike Sterner from the SJPD.

At the opening, Braddock thanked all of the people that helped the park along. "I truly appreciate the input from Dave and PRNS and the community for making this park happen. It was a big effort and I'm looking forward to phase two."

Tanner Jones, 9 months old, of Evergreen plays with the water at Fowler Creek Park before the grand opening ceremony on Saturday, August 4.

The Friends of Fowler Creek Park, who will continue to monitor the park’s maintenance and its safety, are not yet finished with their job. At the grand opening, they signed up hundreds of new members to help with the park’s upkeep and they continue to look for sponsors to fund the second and third phases of the park.

Phase two will add an 8,000-square foot community center, bocce ball courts, a group picnic area and shelter as well as a garden and a fountain. Phase three will include a swim center and the water play area that when implemented, will be the only fresh water park in San Jose.

"We have no clue when phase two and three will happen. Although there's a little [money] left over from funding phase one, it's not enough to even start phase two. Right now we're hoping some new developers will kick up the funding to get started," Braddock said.