San Jose District 6 City Councilman Ken Yeager kicked off a groundbreaking ceremony Aug. 24 for the 15,000-square-foot park at the intersection of Bird and Fisk avenues.

"It's been great to work with the residents to plan the park," Yeager said. "The groundbreaking ceremony is a good way to bring people together and inform them of the park."

The master plan to build the pocket park was approved in May.

The park will be surrounded by a 42-inch-high steel fence with a gate on Bird Avenue. The gate will open to a concrete walkway with bordered by grass, plants and shrubs. The walkway leads to a circular concrete path that encloses a toddler play structure. Benches will surround the circular playground so parents can watch their children. The park will also feature two game tables.

The park is not big enough for restrooms or drinking fountain facilities, but because the park will allow dogs, two Mutt Mitt dispensers will be installed.

The North Willow Glen Neighborhood Association will adopt the park and plant more flowers to beautify its landscape. Existing trees on the property will remain, but San Jose Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services will plant more trees throughout the park.

Residents say they are thrilled to have a new park in the neighborhood.

"It's fabulous," said Rene Erez, who lives one block from Hummingbird Park on Coe Avenue. "When my son was a baby, there was no place in the neighborhood I could take him to play. It will be nice to have a park here."

Erez is one of the community leaders who pushed for the construction of the park.

The property where Hummingbird Park will stand was once a park that only had a small garden and relied on volunteers for maintenance. Erez contacted Yeager's office to find ways to improve it. Yeager then worked with the city's park officials and neighbors to find funding to build a new park. The San Jose City Council allocated $300,000 for the project in June.

"I came up with the initial design," said Erez, a landscape designer with the Beals Group. "I wanted to have a more active park, with playgrounds and benches. I am glad we will have those in Hummingbird Park."