The San Jose Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department held a community meeting last night to discuss the development of a new park to be located near the corner of N. San Pedro and W. Julian Streets in downtown San Jose. The 1-acre park would be part of the proposed North San Pedro housing project development by Barry Swenson Builder and The Olson Company. Bruce Hill, landscape architect, introduced the initial preliminary design for the park which would include open lawn space, a 20-foot wide paseo, and an oak tree at the center of a multi-use plaza. The park, currently dubbed as “North San Pedro Park”, would also feature two entry arches to greet visitors entering the park through the paseo.

The North San Pedro park would be a center point for the North San Pedro housing project which is slated for three high-rise residential condo towers and 89 townhomes. The North San Pedro housing project would add approximately 600 new residential units to downtown San Jose.

The proposed North San Pedro park would be bordered to east and west by the new townhomes. The park and paseo would extend north to Bassett Street and to the south to a re-gridded W. Julian Street.

Many of the community members in attendance engaged in a lively discussion about the design and use of the proposed park. Some local residents welcomed the open grass space proposed while others thought there should be more hardscape. Ideas about connecting the proposed North San Pedro park with Ryland Park also came up but that scenario is complicated by the fact that railroad tracks divide the two areas. A pedestrian crossing would be needed to link the two parks. Most people in attendance did agree that, with its proximity to the Coleman overpass, any park would have to be designed to discourage the homeless from sleeping or loitering in the park. There was no clear answer to this problem.

Overall, it was a productive meeting and most were excited about the prospects of a new park in downtown San Jose. What would you like to see in a new park in downtown San Jose?