THE NEIGHBORHOOD VIEW: NEIGHBORS ASKED TO HELP PLAN NEW FLEMING AVENUE PARK

This is the notice sent out to neighbors asking for participation in the planning of the new Fleming Avenue park.

By Len Ramirez

The East Foothill's first new park in many decades is becoming a reality and the city of San Jose is inviting us to help plan it.

Many neighbors in the Fleming corridor recently received a notice in the mail asking them to attend a special meeting at 6:30 pm, Monday, May 7th at the Berryessa Community Center for the purpose of planning the new park, which will be built on Fleming Avenue near Fleming Ct. The meeting is sponsored by the office of City Councilmember Nora Campos and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services.

The 1/2 acre park will be built in conjunction with a new housing development of 14 homes on the former site of The Lord's Baptist Church, and is the result of a hard-fought battle between neighbors and the housing developer Braddock and Logan over that development. Neighbors successfully petitioned the city of San Jose to reduce the number of homes and add the park. The development originally planned for 21 homes to be built on the 2 1/2 acre parcel. The final result was a 1/3rd reduction in the number of homes and the addition of a small neighborhood park. In addition, at least two large mature trees were saved from the chainsaws and will become part of the park's design and keep that part of Fleming Avenue green and shaded.

This is a rare opportunity to make a real community impact and neighbors throughout the Alum Rock/East Foothills area should plan on attending the meeting on the 7th, to help ensure the new park is something neighbors will be proud of.