Willow Glen Resident
News
City wants residents to weigh in on restrooms and dog park
By Emilie Crofton
Where to go from here with the Del Monte Park Master Plan?
For starters, how about more community input? That was the request from District 6 director of public policy Denelle Fedor at the June 20 session of the city council rules and open government committee.
Fedor requested the park hearing be placed on an evening council session so more residents could attend and offer comments.
The Del Monte Park Master Plan project is part of 14.67-acre site that is being developed by KB Home. The development, Monte Vista, will include 390 single-family homes and a 2.2-acre park.
In a memorandum to council members, District 6 City Councilman Pierluigi Oliverio recommended that a restroom and dog run be included in Phase I of the master plan. According to his memorandum, the former industrial area is underutilized. He would like to expand the size of the park eventually up to 5 acres.
The park is bounded to the west by Sunol Street, to the east by the Los Gatos Creek and north and south by Auzerias Avenue and W. Home Street.
Ken Henning, board member for the Buena Vista Neighborhood Association, is anxious to have the council approve the park
"We're all thrilled," Henning said. "It's a very nice thing Oliverio is doing, a very good thing."
Oliverio said in a written statement that incorporating restrooms in the first phase of the project would prevent future problems.
In prior city park projects, including Cahill and O'Connor, residents, developers and city staff had agreed to have bathroom facilities installed, but when residents moved in, they didn't want the public facilities. This left the San Jose Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department in an "uncomfortable position," according to Oliverio.
Henning and other residents want to make sure Del Monte Park, unlike O'Connor Park, is open to everyone. Henning said O'Connor Park was poorly designed because it was surrounded by homes. He would like to see play areas and a basketball court incorporated into the Del Monte proposal.
The other feature that residents would like to have is either a dog run or dog park. Willow Glen residents have been trying to agree on a dog park in District 6 for several years, but have been unable to come to a consensus on a location. This would be the first dog facility in District 6.
A hearing on the Del Monte Master Park Plan is scheduled for Aug. 14 at 7 p.m. at San Jose City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara St.
