The Sunnyvale Sun

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City has no
plans for more
pocket parks

Sunnyvale Parks and Recreation Commission chair Bob Kinder sparked a discussion on March 12 that revealed that pocket parks--about the size of one residential lot, with minimal amenities for neighborhood children--are not on the city's agenda.

Kinder argued for more small parks in areas that are being converted from industrial to residential uses in north Sunnyvale and near high-density residential developments like the Town Center project.

Putting a pocket park within walking distance of every resident may not be physically possible and is not planned, said David Lewis, director of parks and recreation.

He also said that the millions of dollars collected in park dedication fees, which developers pay if they decide not to create parks within their project, have to be spent on projects that will serve people who live in those projects.

The city is due to wrap up a Parks of the Future study in June to help with future plans. Information is online at www.parksofthefuture.com.

Solar group
gets wide
buy-in

Organizers of the SolarSunnyvale Initiative are happy with the results of their kickoff group-buy phase, which ran from Dec. 1to Feb. 29.

A total of 167 kilowatts of photovoltaic solar panel systems is being installed on 43 Sunnyvale residences, beating the goal set by SolarCity, one of several companies offering special deals for residents during the kickoff, according to the group. REC Solar and Akeena also offered discounts and helped with solar education workshops.

The new systems will produce about 240,000 kilowatt hours per year.