The Cupertino Courier

News

Residents get their first look at Stevens Creek Corridor

By Hugh Biggar

Bucolic scenes of rippling waters, ducks and leafy creek banks uncharacteristically filled the Cupertino Community Center when the city unveiled its official collaborative plans for the Stevens Creek Corridor project.

"We did a poll in 2004 and realized most of the city residents didn't know the parks were public property," Rick Kitson, communications manager for Cupertino, said.

The city hopes these public perceptions change, given the considerable community investment in the project--at this stage estimated to cost about $11 million.

The Nov. 30 meeting was a step in that direction, and also a way to acknowledge residents who participated in an innovative community visioning process for the Stevens Creek Corridor.

As a part of the shaping of the 62-acre linear park through McClellan Ranch and Blackberry Farm, Cupertino invited residents to participate in the visioning process in 2003.

Cupertino's city council later approved a plan for the Stevens Creek Corridor it believed corresponded to those goals.

The plan now includes a trail along the east side of the creek, restoration of the creek to historic boundaries to improve fish passage--especially for steelhead trout,--and limitation on parking at Blackberry Farm to 300 spaces.

While the plans have had their detractors, particularly opposing a proposed trail that would run through the historic Stocklmeir orchard, the Nov. 30 meeting focused instead on what has been accomplished since the city started Stevens Creek Corridor master plan talks in the 1990s.

"The major concern has been about impacts on nature," said councilmember Richard Lowenthal at the meeting. "The council's No. 1 priority is restoration of the creek, since it is not very healthy, and to mitigate those impacts by restoring the creek to its natural boundaries. ... With the visionary process, we got a little bit from everyone."