n City Never Asked Folks on
Arnold Drive Whether They
Wanted a Park Fence
Dear Editor,
I have lived on Arnold Drive since 1961. When we bought our home we were told that there would be a city park in the area behind our fence. That was one of the sales techniques that were used to sell us this home. We had three children and one on the way. The school was at the corner and a park in our backyard. What a deal.
The park materialized when my unborn child was 15 years old. We did not complain when our fences were the park fences. We were so glad to have the park. When our taxes went up because of the park we said nothing.
We have NEVER experienced any problems with the park and whoever was in the park. We have acquired dogs to roam our yards and we have NEVER had anyone come over the fence or bother us in anyway. The only visitors that we experienced in the 1990s were rats and that issue was corrected with the rerouting of the creek. We all built gates from our yards to go into the park and the park has provided us the view and the beauty of having a park in your yard. We can stand in our back yard and hear the children playing in the park, the ball game if there is one and music from the arena stage whenever there is music and we have NEVER complained about any of this as it is the charm of the park.
We go through our gate and can just stand and enjoy being in a park. So you have barbecue in your own back yard and then go into the park to watch a game. Much nicer than taking our car and going somewhere else to have a picnic or watch a ball game.
I was unaware of the plan to “a new wall on the south side of the park to protect homes.”
Who is asking for this? No one has come to my front door to discuss this “wall.” Have you asked any of the homes that you are trying to “protect” if we need this protection? I guess it was just lucky that I saw a copy of the newspaper today and read up on this. I would have thought that someone would make a concerted effort to involve all of the homeowners on Arnold Drive. We are the people who have been here since the beginning. All of the other homeowners have purchased their homes after we were already here. We are the only people who would be affected by this “wall.”
Is this wall being constructed because some landscape consultant or city planner has looked around and tried to find something to disrupt our lives? I resent this intrusion in our lives and will be appearing at the public meetings on this subject.
Frances Rodriquez, Gilroy
