Showing posts with label san jose parks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label san jose parks. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

CaliBunga Waterpark San Jose officially opening June 29th!

What was once known as San Jose's Ranging Waters is being reborn as CaliBunga Waterpark San Jose starting on Saturday June 29th. The park is located inside Lake Cunningham Park and features over a dozen water attractions. It'll be open from 11am-6pm every day until August 7th and then open weekends through September.

They have upped the food options with in-park Food Trucks like Los Tres Hermanos and El Bombero 408. Best of all, they are planning a new restaurant and wine garden that will be open year-round! That is a great way to utilize space that would generally be empty most of the year. The restaurant will also have live music and an event space.

Tickets start at $28 for Twilight Admission (after 3pm). General admission starts at $53 and season passes start at $65. You can also rent cabanas with locking storage and food service. For more info, head to the CaliBunga website.



Sunday, March 17, 2024

Plaza de Cesar Chavez has some new amenities

Just in time for nicer weather, I noticed a few new features in Plaza de Cesar Chavez yesterday. There are two outdoor table tennis tables that look really nice along with fancy lounge seating. Several kids were already playing in the fountains even though it was not a very warm day.

The additions felt very welcome and will inevitably be popular with the college students that are moving into the former Fairmont Annex tower across the street. I also like that the colors chosen match and compliment The Tech Interactive museum.

Hopefully we'll see more surprises like this in parks throughout Downtown San Jose.



Sunday, March 3, 2024

San Jose Water Lantern Festival

A three-day lantern festival is coming to Almaden Lake Park in South San Jose from June 21-23. Each day starts with food trucks, music, and activities. Around 8pm, you can design your lantern and then between 8:30 and 10pm you launch your lantern into the lake.

Tickets range from $27-56, but the cheapest pricing ends on March 6th. Tickets include a floating lantern kit, LED candle, a drawstring bag, and lantern retrieval and clean up at the end of the event.

For more information and to get tickets, head here.



Wednesday, November 8, 2023

San Jose's Frontier Village Remnants

Did you know San Jose once had a Western-themed theme park that opened in the 1960s? A Palo Alto entrepreneur built Frontier Village for $2 million after being inspired at Disneyland. It was built on about 60 acres near Hayes Mansion.

Some of the highlights were staged gunfights, saloons, and several rides including a roller coaster, a Ferris wheel, railroad, canoe rides, and horse-drawn carriages. An expansion was planned in 1977, but neighbors complained and the San Jose City Council denied the plans. Unfortunately, due to this and further competition from Marriott's Great America the park closed in 1980.

However, you can find all sorts of remnants and tributes for the theme park at Edenvale Garden Park across from Hayes Mansion. This includes five scale buildings placed where their original structures were and a play structure that is themed after the park's railroad. Next time you are visiting Hayes Mansion, it's worth a detour to check out the park and see how many references you can find related to a shuttered theme park.

Source: SJtoday






Wednesday, October 18, 2023

Pellier Park Grand Opening today in Downtown San Jose

Today, San Jose gets a new park. You might have noticed a large construction area in front of City Heights, Downtown's first high-rise residential tower. This will be Pellier Park, named after a nursery founded and operated by Louis and Pierre Pellier. They planted grape seedlings and became famous for growing prunes. By 1870 more than 19,000 prune trees were planted.

Pellier Park is 0.54-acres and has a central area in the shape of a plum with a community grove in the very center. It features a variety of flowering trees, sloped lawns, lounge seating, a storytelling wall, and a flowering tree drift. There is also a walkway beside a new set of townhomes that were built at the corner of the block.

The park is immediately accessible by anyone at City Heights, is across the street from the 188 West St. James residential towers (formerly Silvery towers) and two blocks away from the San Pedro Square Market.

The grand opening takes place today at 5pm.











Monday, September 11, 2023

New Five Wounds Trail would link San Jose's cycling and walking network to the 28th Street/Little Portugal BART station by 2031

The Mercury News has a story about a trail that has been in the works for over 20 years. 

The Five Wounds Trail--named after the Five Wounds Portuguese National Church it would run by--would be a paved 2.17 mile route starting at the intersection of Story and Senter Roads. This is where the Coyote Creek and Lower Silver Creek trails come together. It is also near Kelly Park, Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, the Japanese Friendship Garden, and History San Jose.

From there it would follow an abandoned railroad track all the way to Little Portugal, which is anchored by Five Wounds Church and is the site of the proposed 28th Street BART station, sometimes also referred to as the Alum Rock BART station.

What has become an unofficial walkway for some would be cleaned up, paved, and turned into a nice trail for walkers, runners, and cyclists with a few potentials areas for basketball courts and exercise equipment. It is all part of a master plan to connect hundreds of miles of trails together in Santa Clara County and would be a tremendous amenity for residents, especially those that are planning to utilize the new BART station.

Source: The Merc









Saturday, September 9, 2023

Picnic by the lake with Senator Dave Cortese - Sep 30th at Hellyer County Park in South San Jose

Sen. Dave Cortese is hosting an inaugural "Picnic by the Lake" multicultural festival and resource fair in South San Jose. Everyone is welcome. Firefighters will be grilling up beef and veggie burgers for visitors, and unlike many things in life they will be completely free. There will also be a pumpkin patch filled with free pumpkins (while supplies last) and raffle prizes.

For the kids, there will be inflatables, face painting, and rock climbing. Entertainment includes performances from Folklorico Nacional Mexicano, Viet Steps dancers, and others.

Attendees can also get free flu shots and COVID vaccines. Up to 100 resource booths will also be there as well to promote other city resources.

The event will be Saturday, September 30th from 10am to 3pm at the scenic Hellyer County Park.

Source: San Jose Spotlight


Tuesday, August 1, 2023

100 Things To Do In San Jose Before You Die - 2nd Edition

Welcome to the blog post that has stayed in "draft" the longest. I started writing this right as COVID had just started to spread and decided to table it until the pandemic was over. Then last year, life got crazy... so this has been in draft for over three years!

Five Eight years ago I read the first edition of Susannah Greenwood's "100 Things To Do in San Jose Before You Die." As a hardcore San Jose aficionado, I was shocked (and delighted) that I had only done 54 out of the 100 things to do in the book. There is so much to do and see in San Jose.

25% of the entries on the second edition are new, and the rest have been updates with extended tips. I have used the book as sort of a checklist to see how many I can do. The answer is 52. In the 2nd Edition I have been able to do 52/100.

Some of the new entries include:
  • Hiking Mount Umunhum
  • Having a picnic at the Sierra Vista Open Space Preserve
  • Bike, Blade, and Board at Viva CalleSJ
  • Letting your taste buds travel with a Little Ethiopian in Little Ethiopia
  • Indulge at Adega (I think this will be updated for the 3rd Edition)
  • Pair farm-fresh food with gorgeous valley views at the Mount Hamilton GrandView Restaurant
  • Celebrating the geekiest week of the year with Star Wars Day and Free Comic Book Day
...and many, many more. It's a great book and still very relevant, especially if you want to get the most out of the beautiful place where you live and uncover as many hidden gems and fun attractions as possible in your own home. San Jose is one of the most underrated cities in the United States, and this book will help explain why.

If I haven't been super clear, I highly recommend the 2nd edition (even if you have the first). You can get the book in paperback or Kindle form over here.


"In sitting down to revise the book, I thought a lot about San Jose, how it has and continues to change, as well as what a successful travel experience for me personally constitutes. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to 6 continents and I examined what my favorite places were and why they ranked so. Certainly natural beauty, history, cultural offerings and great weather all play a part in connecting one to a destination and creating a positive travel memory, but what it really comes down to for me, are the people. That is the x factor. The people you meet, at least in my experience, can leave as much of a lasting impression in many cases as the food or the views or the activities you engage in. The people you meet have the power to transform a moment into a story and create a shared experience that extends its impact well after you’ve returned home. In short; conversations create connection and that connection is ripe for the picking in San Jose.

They say it’s not about the destination - it’s the journey, but I think San Jose truly proves they’re both very much intertwined. The featured places and events in the book were especially selected to not only represent our culture and highlight our tremendous natural landscape, but to underscore our strong sense of community. Each of the entries certainly qualifies as a stand-alone adventure, but each of them also strives to put the participant directly in the path of our cities most magical asset; San Joseans. These are the places you’re most likely to strike up that all important conversation with the most passionate and knowledgeable secret tour guides, each genuinely eager to enhance and elevate your experience with additional history, tidbits, and previously undocumented advice. It’s less of a guide to physical places perhaps as it is a curation of potential conversations by which one can better understand and enjoy our awesome City.

Whether you're a first time visitor to this biggest little city in the heart of Silicon Valley, a regular traveler to the area, or a local this 2nd edition is a great catalyst to exploring what makes San Jose tick and getting to know the authentic San Jose." -Susannah Greenwood

Monday, June 19, 2023

The Future of St. James Park

One of San Jose's most underutilized resources is St. James Park. It has such a great location and historical significance, yet it has become little more than a bastion for the homeless. The SJDA is doing their best to activate it with movies and yoga, but the park itself needs to change. This is especially needed with several high-density housing projects planned for the immediate area.

Now, plans to transform St. James into a modern flagship community amenity are coming together.

Below are illustrations of the new spaces that are being planned that will offer a variety of experiences. These includes a live music venue, children's park, dog park, and plenty of open spaces. All this while keeping the original trees, fountains, and statues. The ETA to see this to fruition is 2028. It sounds like an eternity, but this could be St. James Park in less than 5 years.

Source: SVBJ












Saturday, June 17, 2023

Santa Clara Parks Summer Program

It's amazing that you can live someplace your entire life and still not have visited all of the local amenities. I have yet to visit the Almaden Quicksilver Mining Museum, that is the last major museum in San Jose on my list.

Below is a visitor center in Coyote Creek that wasn't even on one of my lists--I never even knew it existed. It sounds like Coyote Creek Visitor Center has all sorts of family friendly activities throughout the summer and is located close to Anderson Lake. For the adults out there, I see quite a few wineries in the area as well.

Dates and times for the events are listed below, all ages are welcome and no reservations are needed. It looks like a neat place to visit with family even when no events are going on. The address is 19245 Malaguerra Ave, Morgan Hill, CA 95037 (it's literally at the border of San Jose).



Monday, March 1, 2021

SoFA Dog Park now open

We need more active public spaces to help brighten San Jose, especially as we move towards a post-COVID19 world. The smaller projects the build culture and a sense of place are just as important as the high-rise development proposals we're getting. 

A new dog park has just opened in San Jose and it's right in the heart of Downtown San Jose's artsy SoFA district. It features separate play areas for big and small dogs, benches, sanitizing stations, waste bags, and water bowls.

Next to the dog park will be a Demonstration Garden set to open in late Spring with planters, a Veggielution farmstand, and flexible furniture. The farmstand will sell fruit and vegetables but there will also be a food truck and carts to allow for pop-up events.

Together, this will make for a pretty cool space in SoFA to compliment several new restaurants, lounges, and development projects coming to the area (seriously, everyone should check out Petiscos by ADEGA--amazing restaurant).

The new pocket park is located at 540 S. First Street and is open from 7am to 8pm every day. A Grand Opening is planned for April 2021 and the full press release is below.




SoFA Dog Park Opening Day Fact Sheet

Presented by the San Jose Downtown Association

Thursday, Feb. 18 | 10 am - 1 pm | 540 S. 1st Street 


What:

  • SoFA Pocket Park (dog park-portion only) opening 

  • This is a fun, inviting space for dogs, dog owners and the community to enjoy

  • "Another way to activate public spaces for the community in a positive way."

  • Dog park will feature artificial turf, a double-entry gate, outdoor furniture, basic dog amenities and separate areas for bigger and smaller dogs 

  • Demonstration Garden (opens in late Spring) will feature raised planter beds, garden storage, farmstand, and movable furniture. The farmstand will sell fresh fruit and vegetables and occasionally offer pop-up events through their food truck and food carts.

Visuals:  Dogs and people playing together. We have five owners and canines reserved to be at the park from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday.

When:

  • Thursday, Feb. 18 from 10 am - 1 pm

  • Daily Hours: 7 am - 8 pm (subject to change) 

  • "Pocket Park" Grand Opening planned for April 2021 - includes demonstration garden

Where:

  • 540 S First Street in Downtown San Jose

Why:

  • To revitalize an underutilized lot and transform it into a temporary area for the community until the ownership’s development team moves forward with a permanent project

  • Wanted to provide a fun, lively, inviting space for dogs, dog owners and the downtown community to enjoy and hang out in (while socially distanced and wearing masks)

  • A fun addition to the South First Area (SoFA District) 

  • Dogs and their dog owners usually stop by the small strip of grass outside of where the SoFA Pocket Park currently is, so this park will provide these pets and their owners a fun little space to enjoy on their daily walks

  • “Mission to bring people together to activate downtown San Jose in new and positive ways.” - Urban Community principal Jeff Arrillaga

  • “Public space has never been more valued and important as we deal with the confines of daily life during the pandemic. SoFA Pocket Park is a non-traditional public space that combines a dog park -- open now -- and a community garden -- coming soon.  Our goal was to create a little oasis in the midst of downtown that will offer some pleasurable respite and be welcoming to everyone.”  - Scott Knies, Executive Director of the San Jose Downtown Association


Who:

  • Presented by the San Jose Downtown Association with Veggielution

  • Property Owner:  Urban Community

  • Sponsors: Knight Foundation, Urban Catalyst, Topa Architecture, Google, Urban Community, Hamilton Builders, JJ Perez Paving

  • Dog park will be maintained by downtown’s Property Based Improvement District (PBID)

  • Demonstration Garden will be operated and maintained by Veggielution

    • Project partner, Veggielution, is an urban farm from East San Jose expanding their presence downtown to generate opportunities for their food entrepreneur incubator program, Eastside Grown. 

  • This park is for local residents and the greater community

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Bark in the Park this Saturday

The largest dog festival in the United States takes place this weekend at William Street Park. Over 15,000 dog lovers and 3,900 dogs are expected to be in attendance. The festival stretches across 10 acres of grass, trees, and water.

Events include a variety of workshops, shows, and contests (dog costumes, pet owner look-a-like, tail and tail wagging. There will also be a kids entertainment zone, low-cost vaccines, microchiping, and vendor booths.

Bark in the Park runs from 10am-5pm this Saturday at S. 16th Street and William Street. The event is free but a $5 donation is encouraged for each dog.

For more information, head over to the Bark in the Park website.


Thursday, August 31, 2017

Friday Night Concert @ St. James Park tomorrow from 6-8pm

St. James Park is going to be filled with activity tomorrow night thanks to the Summer in St. James Park Concert Series. In addition to live music, there will be all sorts of games and food. It is nice to really see this park finally come alive and contribute to the Downtown culture. More details below from the FB event page.





It’s Happening! this summer in St. James Park! The City of San Jose’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services has partnered with San Jose Jazz to bring the downtown community and jazzy tunes and chill vibes with a series of SJ Jazz Boom Box Performances and rotating free and family-friendly activities. This Friday’s activities will include: SJ Jazz Boom Box FEAT. Kenya B. https://youtu.be/U1QB-zBhfMA https://youtu.be/5xfOuqtdBhE

  • Zen Den Pop-Up 
  • Life-Sized Dart Board 
  • Cornhole Tournament 
  • Croquet Games 
  • Food Trucks 
  • Café Dining Area 
  • Lamzac Seating

For other It’s Happening! Summer in St. James and Plaza de Cesar Chavez activities, visit our website at www.sanjoseca.gov/itshappening, where you can find a full calendar of activities.


Monday, June 26, 2017

Wishlist: An Urban Linear Park

When traveling, one thing I can count on is that local parks are probably the best way to get to know a city. For some cities, it's due to a signature park or tourist attraction within the park. For the rest, I find it most satisfying to explore a city through a linear park.

Wikipedia defines an urban park as a "park in an urban or suburban setting that is substantially longer than it is wide". This usually means there are two ends to the park, and it is designed to encourage pedestrian traffic between the end points (i.e. a trail). A properly designed, public, pedestrian- and bike-friendly pathway can allow visitors to see more of the city while simultaneously activating otherwise deserted spaces.

Urban Linear Parks in Other Cities

The High Line, New York City

Some of this activation comes from re-purposing paths that are no longer in use. The High Line in New York used to be a stretch of railroad elevated railroad. Now visitors on The High Line can walk parallel to 10th Ave, but with a lot more green and some escape from the rush of the streets below.

Other examples include waterfront walks. While waterfronts are generally already pedestrian destinations, these parks naturally draw visitors to walk along side them. One example not far from home is the Embarcadero in San Francisco. The walk stretches from AT&T Park on the southern end to Fisherman's Wharf in the north. Along the way there is public art, a nice view of the Bay Bridge, restaurants, and of course, piers.

The Embarcadero, San Francisco
My favorite example of a linear park is actually from a recent trip to Panama City (in Panama, not Florida). The Cinta Costera is also a park along the waterfront, but is on a different level when it comes to pedestrian involvement. I walked along most of it, which took approximately an hour.

Playground at Cinta Costera, Panama City
Street vendors at Cinta Costera, Panama City
Here's what it had to offer:
  • Outdoor exercise areas
  • Playgrounds
  • Food carts
  • Toy vendors and DIY carnival games
  • Basketball and futsal courts
  • Sculptures
  • Music
  • People in Disney costumes (for photos)
  • Plenty of seating, and plenty of people seated
This park was the place to be for kids and adults, tourists and locals alike. The eyes, foot traffic, and lighting provided a sense of safety. The entire stretch of the park felt lively and festive. Wouldn't it be nice to have something similar in San Jose?

Guadalupe River Trail & Park

San Jose doesn't have much of a waterfront to flaunt, and it doesn't (yet) have large stretches of unused rail or road to convert into a park. Until Alviso is a more appropriate destination for visitors, the park with the most potential to become an urban linear park to showcase the city is probably Guadalupe River Park and Trail. A large section of it already intersects with the most urban part of San Jose (and the South Bay). It is somewhat connected to various pedestrian walkways, and isn't fully contained within a large, isolated park. 

Interestingly we caught glimpses of what the park could become during the Pokemon Go craze. Just the equivalent of a couple of highway exits down from the park, masses of people gathered between the SAP Center and Little Italy near the Guadalupe River trail. At night there started to be music, hot dog carts started to show up, and people eventually seemed to go to the park just to hang out. The natural benefits of a successful public space were in full display, albeit a result of the mobile game.

Guadalupe River Trail during the Pokemon Go craze

Over time, the crowds started to dwindle until the park was empty once again. However, I couldn't help but wonder how great it would be if we had people enjoying our parks this much on a daily basis.

Safety is #1

From what I see, hear and read, the biggest obstacle preventing many people from visiting parks around San Jose is the fear for their safety. In my observations about Cinta Costera, I mentioned that it felt safe. That's what prompted me to take the one hour walk rather than call a taxi: the park both intrigued and welcomed me. It was easy to call for help with so many pedestrians nearby. The open layout meant I could see what was coming from a great distance. It was next to an expressway, so not many cars were parked on the side of the road. There wasn't a single poorly lit stretch of the path.

On the contrary, the Guadalupe River Trail is mostly isolated rather than integrated with the city. The miscellaneous trees and bushes mean it's hard to know what's ahead or around the corner. While San Jose is still one of the safest large cities in the US, its reputation within the Bay Area has suffered in recent years due to the growing homeless population (and related news). With most people afraid or uncomfortable walking through the parks, and refusing to visit, the opposite of the Pokemon Go impact occurs. The quieter the park, the more people are worried that something bad may happen in the next corner, or behind the next bush, and no one would be around to help them. It's a cruel cycle.

What's Next?

There did appear to be an effort to re-imagine Guadalupe Trail Park from 2009. As far as I could tell, this was nothing more than a brain exercise for the planning group. The presentation certainly looks interesting, but is also clearly outdated. For example, with movement on the St. James Park redesign (which includes a stage), does it make sense for Guadalupe River Park to also have a major entertainment venue?

Ken Kay Associates' vision of Guadalupe River Park
I do like many of the ideas outlined in this plan (an efficiently run fountain would be a great contrast to the mostly dry river), but it's missing a critical consideration. The park is connected to the trail. As the downtown, Diridon, and Japantown areas become more pedestrian friendly, the trail will be the best way for many locals to arrive at the park. Revamping with park itself without turning the stretches of Guadalupe Park Trail into a safe, welcoming walkway could mean that the park remains barren and inactive during most of the week.

As the urban core of San Jose develops, it'll be increasingly important that there's an all-ages, all-genders public space for us to gather as a community. Focusing on making Guadalupe River Park and Trail the best they can be would help us achieve that goal. A comprehensive plan must include turning the urban stretch of the trail into our own take of the urban linear park concept. It has the potential to not only become a unique attraction to the area, but also become a crucial pedestrian pathway between neighborhoods.

- Lawrence Lui

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Selma Olinder Dog Park will get a $20k makeover -- volunteers needed

SAN JOSE DOG PARK’S DREAMS COME TRUE WITH $20,000 MAKEOVER AND HELPING HAND FROM BENEFUL®

Beneful Dream Dog Park Project Team, Dog Lovers and City of San Jose Revamp Selma Olinder Dog Park During Volunteer Day

WHAT: On Friday, November 4, the Beneful Dream Dog Park Project team will join forces with the City of San Jose’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services to spruce up Selma Olinder Park Dog Park for its dog loving community. Interested volunteers are welcome to work alongside City and Beneful teams in exchange for a morning of tail-wagging fun, doggie swag and a sample of the new Beneful Originals with Real Beef recipe. Volunteer check-in will begin at 8:30 a.m. the day of the event, at the park entrance.

The $20,000 donation will be accompanied by a new piece of dog park equipment, a Beneful Doxie Tunnel – the only one of its kind in the area. The donation and volunteer day to Selma Olinder Park Dog Park come as part of the Beneful Dream Dog Park Project, a year-long program to support more than a dozen community dog parks across the country.

For more information about the Beneful Dream Dog Park Project, please visit DreamDogPark.com and follow on social media with #DreamDogPark

WHEN: Friday, November 4, 2016 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
o    Volunteer and media check-in at 8:30 a.m.
o    Check presentation at 9 a.m.
                                                                                                                                               
WHERE: Selma Olinder Park Dog Park
848 E. William St., San José, CA 95116



Wednesday, October 12, 2016

St. James Park finally getting redesigned

Four finalist proposals have been selected in a competition to do a complete overhaul of St. James Park. As we all know, over the past several decades the park has become an unpleasant place. It is a shame given the park's central location and history that includes everything from presidential visits to one of the last lynchings in the US.

A finalist will be selected on October 15th, so you still have a few days to submit your opinion. The proposal will be selected based on how well the park addresses the needs for the Levitt Pavilion (year-round permanent music venue), the needs of the whole community, how original and creative it is, and how likely people are to visit it.

At least 50 free, family-friendly concerts will take place each year in the new St. James Park. Other requirements include picnic areas, greenery, and "whimsical" fountains. The cost will range from $30-60 million, but that money will be well spent if it can transform the area and add value to the community for decades.

You can view each of the four proposals over here.

Source: The Merc, huge thanks to Nick Fishler for sending this in!






Monday, August 8, 2016

Almaden Boulevard is getting an exercise loop

The first time I saw a public outdoor exercise area with free equipment to use was in Israel five or six years ago. Since then I have always thought this would be a great addition to San Jose, especially given our weather and the fact that San Jose is one of the healthiest cities in the US. It looks like we are finally getting such a space in 2017.

A one-mile-long exercise loop will be built in Downtown San Jose thanks to donations from Kaiser Permanente, the Sharks Foundation, and SAP. The loop will consist of two exercise elements: the loop itself (which is designed for walking, jogging, or running) and a "Fitness Hub" in the median of Almaden Boulevard and Santa Clara Street. There will also be smaller fitness areas placed throughout the loop for smaller groups.

The Fitness Hub will have several pieces of equipment that residents and visitors can use and it is right next to a Bay Area BikeShare station. This is a great way to encourage people to be healthy while and removing the financial barrier of a gym membership.

The Downtown PBID (property-based improvement district) is also seeking a designer to construct and install a sign for the exercise loop. If you know anyone that may fit the bill for that type of job, contact information is below.


Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

The Downtown Property-Based Improvement District (PBID) is seeking to select a designer(s) to construct and install a vertical entry sign/monument for the Exercise Loop in downtown San Jose. The designer(s) will work with the San Jose Downtown Association (SJDA) to develop their piece in the Fitness Hub located in the median of Almaden Boulevard and Santa Clara Street.  The entry/monument will not only identify the Exercise Loop by name, but must also express branding and wayfinding elements for the Exercise Loop itself.

To be considered for this project, refer to the application process and send the information by Friday, August 19, 2016 by 5:30 pm.

For more Information, please direct questions to Stephanie Wong, PBID Project Coordinator, swong@sjdowntown.com

Monday, June 20, 2016

First annual "Bark in the Park" at Notre Dame Park

A new community-building event for Downtown residents, workers, visitors, and their pets kicks off this Sunday from 4-8pm at Notre Dame Park (intersection of Almaden Boulevard and Carlyle Street). This park exists today thanks to a group of Downtown residents that started a grassroots effort to clean out the unused lot and add some greenery.

The "Bark in the Park" event will have music, food trucks, wine, beer, an animal petting zoo, and art projects. Proceeds will go towards upgrading the park and helping with the maintenance for Andy's Pet Shop. With so many new residents comings into the Downtown area, we need to encourage more projects like this to improve the quality of the Downtown neighborhoods and create a stronger sense of community in the area!


Sunday, September 6, 2015

The Guadalupe River Trail Has a New Work of Public Art

Check out this amazing metal mammoth that is roaming the Guadalupe River Trail in Downtown San Jose! The project commemorates the mammoth fossils that were discovered in the Guadalupe River bed several years ago. These are exactly the types of projects that we need to interest more people in exploring and discovering San Jose's parks.

Source: Cardinal2007 from the San Jose Development Forum