Photograph by George Sakkestad
Ellen Cardos (top) and Mary Gonzales enjoy a swing at Bachman Park.
By Shari Kaplan
When a neighbor of student Parks Commissioner Chris Miller commented on the beauty of nearby Bachman Park but complained about the ongoing problem of dog droppings, it raised Miller's awareness not only about this particular problem at this park, but about other conditions people may experience at the town's 14 parks and play areas.
After several drafts, Miller perfected a full-page survey that, among other things, asks respondents (children, teens and adults) which town parks they visited in the past year, how often they visit parks, why they visit and how they would rate 10 different aspects of the parks they use. There is also a section to see what people think about the availability of self-serve pooper scoopers.
Miller, a Los Gatos High School sophomore who lives right across from Bachman Park, says he will spend several hours at each park handing out surveys over the coming weeks. Miller says a copy of his survey will also be included in an upcoming Los Gatos town newsletter, Town Talk, which will be mailed to residents within about a month.
He then plans to compile the surveys and present the results to the Los Gatos Parks Commission at its June 3 meeting.
If enough people surveyed give the pooper-scoopers a thumbs up, Miller says, the commission may vote in favor of the idea and present it to the Town Council at a later date for possible approval.
The commission will also study or address other questions or issues brought out by the surveys. Student parks commissioners Miller and schoolmate Shoshi Parks are official voting members of the commission.
One of the most interesting things Miller says he learned by originating this project is that Los Gatos has many more parks than easily meet the eye. According to a Parks Department brochure, these parks (most with play areas) are Bachman, Belgatos, Blossom Hill, Fairview Plaza, Howes Playlot, La Rinconada, Live Oak Manor, Los Gatos Creek Trail, Novitiate, Oak Hill Playlot, Oak Meadow, Pageant Grounds, Town Plaza and Worcester. Vasona Park is not included on the list because it is run by the county.
This article appeared in the Los Gatos Weekly-Times, April 16, 1997.