The park, located at the intersection of Curtner and Radio avenues, is the first park constructed in San Jose under its new "Play for All" campaign, which calls for parks and playground equipment to be accessible to all children, with or without physical disabilities.

Since its opening ceremony on May 18, the $1.5 million park's playground, fragrant landscaping, and water and sand area have attracted many families every day.

Some families picnic on the park's meadow. Some parents place blankets on the lawn beside the playground and enjoy an afternoon sunbath while watching their children play.

But the park's popularity had caused the withering of its newly planted grass.

"Within just two weeks, the grass is brown and burned," said Judy Giraudo, who lives on Lincoln Court. "It is a wonderful neighborhood park. Why is the city letting it go downhill so quickly?"

Jennifer Taroni, who often takes her 19-month-old son, Jack, to play on the swings and seesaw in the park during the evening, said she was surprised that the city let the grass die after all the efforts and thought it put into building the park.

After receiving dozens of complaints, the park's gardeners increased the frequency of watering and the volume of water about two weeks ago. Now most of the meadow has resumed its green luster, except a few brown spots.

"The grass dried so quickly because of a combination of the heavy use of the park and hot weather," said San Jose City Parks Manager Steve Roemer. "We changed the irrigation schedule right away after we got the complaints."

The temperature went above 100 degrees in early July. On July 9, the temperature reached 101 degrees in San Jose. Meteorologists called it the most severe heat wave of the year.

Steve Fischer, who lives three blocks away from Lincoln Glen Park on Marsha Street, said he likes the park and takes his 3-year-old daughter, Anna, to play in the park once a week.