The Cupertino Courier

Letters & Opinions

Speak Out

Neighborhood Park for Monta Vista is coming?

In 1990, Cupertino residents voted for a 2.4 percent utility tax to purchase Blackberry Farm, a commercial picnic facility, to prevent development and create a neighborhood park. Contrary to the election, the current redevelopment plan consists of a trail connecting Stevens Creek Boulevard to McClellan Road; a multi-year project to move the creek to benefit fish; and a reinvestment in the commercial facility. The promise of the neighborhood park is nowhere to be found. The upgraded commercial compound, generating a paltry $72,000 annual profit (or potential loss), takes 90 percent of reservations from non-residents; serves up to 80,000 customers per 100-day season; permits unrestricted alcohol use; and violates environmental codes. This inappropriate attempt to milk income from parkland shuts out residents from the most beautiful side of the creek and spacious lawns.

Worse, the proposed plan anticipates a more than doubling of traffic--up to 169,000 people year 'round. Most affected are gridlocked McClellan Road and Byrne Avenue. If our city can find money for fish, then it can find money to fix traffic and make streets safe for our children.

This plan is neither compatible with protecting the environment nor creating the park we have been paying and waiting for. Blackberry Farm could be a rural neighborhood park in a natural setting that serves residents, reduces traffic, and improves the transition to McClellan Ranch Preserve. This cannot be attained by the current plan. Email city council at citycouncil@cupertino.org, or let your voice be heard at the council meeting on June 20 at 6:45 p.m.

Rhoda Fry

Cupertino