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The city's parks advisory committee has accepted a status report that outlines how San Jose is spending the money that voters approved in 2000 for park improvements.
The San Jose parks and recreation commission, acting as the citizen oversight committee, approved a report at its Nov. 2 meeting that indicates what the city has accomplished with $139 million for recreational projects during 2004-05. The money comes from a $228 million bond, also known as Measure P. The interest from the bond revenue will be able to cover the rising costs of projects, according to the report.
"Overall, we're pleased with the report," said commission chairwoman Helen Chapman. "We're satisfied with the progress so far."
The bond measure has allowed the city to complete building 28 restrooms and renovate 90 playgrounds. Nine community centers have also been made possible because of the funds. Among some of the projects this year are the completion of bocce ball courts and a picnic area at Almaden Lake Park. Work has also been progressing on the Almaden community center and library joint facility. The center will have a full kitchen for the senior nutrition program, but there is no money for a cook yet. Meals will continue to be catered.
In other parts of town, the bond money has allowed for the start of the extension project of the Los Gatos Creek Trail between Coe and Auzerais avenues. Park staff members are in the process of generating construction documents and securing property for the trail. The report lists the status of seven projects at regional facilities, seven community center projects and five trail projects.
This is the second draft of the report that the Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Service department presented to the committee. The first version lacked specific information on long-range projects. This time around, commissioners also wanted to include in the report explanations for the consolidation of senior and youth centers into multi-service centers, such as the Almaden joint facility. Chapman said that originally, money was supposed to go to facilities that cater to different ages, but because of the city's tight finances, many of those services have converged in multi-service facilities.
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