Home
Protect Our Parks – Via New City Budget
Take 30 seconds to use the form below to tell the San Jose City Council to Protect Our Parks via a ballot measure and other funding mechanisms
Your message will ask the Council to expand and enhance the proposal for a November 2024 ballot measure to identify the park priorities of San Jose voters and what they would be willing to support. It will also ask the Council to direct staff to explore additional funding mechanisms for park operations and maintenance to improve our Neighborhood Parks.
Our community needs public parks and urban green space, both of which are a basic need that promote physical and mental health. Many parks still require repair and maintenance and staff are needed for either to occur. For example, Alum Rock Park is still undergoing repair. By ensuring parks are well-maintained and their staffing adequately funded, we create an inclusive environment that fosters a sense of belonging and unity in San Jose.
The Mayor’s March 2024 budget message highlighted, “Our city parks currently face over $450 million in deferred maintenance costs. It’s time we let residents decide…” by directing “the City Manager to explore placing a measure on the upcoming November 2024 ballot.”
With regard to the Mayor’s suggestion of leasing parkland for commercial purposes. It should be noted that the City Charter (Section 1700.1) already allows long-term leases of parkland with prior approval by the electorate. One example is Raging Waters. For some parks in other cities, significant revenue often comes from fees charged on adjacent real estate properties. There may be many ways to address the lack of maintenance funding. Converting public parkland that is currently open to all free of charge into commercial uses that would charge fees or sell goods and services is an equity issue. Not all San Jose residents can afford to spend money at Raging Waters or other commercial uses. In addition, such commercial uses would be extremely likely to be located on natural, undeveloped areas within our park system, thus reducing San Jose residents’ access to nature and urban green space.
If the Council decides to move forward with a potential ballot measure, it is critical that the ballot measure allow voters to express a variety of priorities rather than just weigh in on one idea. For example, residents could weigh in on:
- Safety in parks
- Connecting with nature
- Park maintenance
- Playgrounds and other family friendly amenities
- Availability of food and beverage
- Socializing and connecting with family and friends
- Increasing parkland to help San Jose adapt to climate changes
Use the form below to ask that any ballot measure strive to identify the priorities of San Jose voters and to direct staff to explore additional funding mechanisms for park operations and maintenance to improve our Neighborhood Parks. You may add a personal comment. The text of the email is below the form. You will receive a confirmation email.
TEXT OF EMAIL TO THE CITY COUNCIL
Subject line: [your-name] [your-zip] – Protect Our Parks: Council Agenda 3/19/24 Item 3.3
Dear Mayor and City Council,
Protect our Parks. Please strive to identify the priorities of San Jose voters to maximize the likelihood of success of a parks ballot measure. Please expand and enhance the proposal for a November 2024 ballot measure to identify the park priorities of San Jose voters and what they would be willing to support. Lastly, please direct staff to explore additional funding mechanisms for park operations and maintenance to improve our Neighborhood Parks.
Our community needs public parks and urban green space, both of which are a basic need that promote physical and mental health. Many parks still require repair and maintenance and staff are needed for either to occur. For example, Alum Rock Park is still undergoing repair. By ensuring parks are well-maintained and their staffing adequately funded, we create an inclusive environment that fosters a sense of belonging and unity in San Jose.
I appreciate that the Mayor’s March 2024 budget message highlighted, “Our city parks currently face over $450 million in deferred maintenance costs. It’s time we let residents decide…” by directing “the City Manager to explore placing a measure on the upcoming November 2024 ballot.”
With regard to the Mayor’s suggestion of leasing parkland for commercial purposes. It should be noted that the City Charter (Section 1700.1) already allows long-term leases of parkland with prior approval by the electorate. One example is Raging Waters. For some parks in other cities, significant revenue often comes from fees charged on adjacent real estate properties. There may be many ways to address the lack of maintenance funding. Converting public parkland that is currently open to all free of charge into commercial uses that would charge fees or sell goods and services is an equity issue. Not all San Jose residents can afford to spend money at Raging Waters or other commercial uses. In addition, such commercial uses would be extremely likely to be located on natural, undeveloped areas within our park system, thus reducing San Jose residents’ access to nature and urban green space.
If the Council decides to move forward with a potential ballot measure, it is critical that the ballot measure allow voters to express a variety of priorities rather than just weigh in on one idea. For example, residents could weigh in on:
- Safety in parks
- Connecting with nature
- Park maintenance
- Playgrounds and other family friendly amenities
- Availability of food and beverage
- Socializing and connecting with family and friends
- Increasing parkland to help San Jose adapt to climate changes
I ask that any ballot measure strive to identify the priorities of San Jose voters to maximize the likelihood of success. Staff should also explore additional funding mechanisms for park operations and maintenance to improve our Neighborhood Parks.
Protect our Parks.
Use the form below to automatically send an email to the City Council. You may add a personal comment. The text of the email is below the form. You will receive a confirmation email.
[your-personal-message]
[your-name]
[your-zip-code]
You may not use my contact information for any purpose other than to respond to my concern regarding the topic listed above, nor may you share my address with any other organization(s) or individual(s).
—
This mail was sent on behalf of a San Jose resident via San Jose United
https://www.sanjoseunited.net
Community Working Together
Visit the Community page to join your community!!
