Gilroy – A concrete BMX bicycle facility and an expanded tennis complex are the crown jewels of a vision to bring Las Animas Veterans Park into the new century.
Families have increasingly passed by the park in recent years as gang members and homeless people took to hanging out in pockets across the 23-acre site, off Welburn
But a new master plan unveiled last week promises to inject new life into the public space and polish its allure for all residents. To ensure the park appeals to the wider public, the city molded its first conceptual design around survey results from 114 residents (the online survey is still posted at www.ci.gilroy.ca.us).
“Some of the common threads were that people really value the open space feeling and trees of Las Animas park,” said Lee Steinmetz, a landscape consultant working on the master plans. “Some of the most important activities were walking, picnicking – not necessarily active recreation features like ball parks. We took that and incorporated it into the plan we presented. It includes a significant trail component and preservation of a lot of the trees.”
The desire for increased safety also was a top concern, according to Steinmetz, who said the plans call for 10-foot wide, paved trails that police cruisers could drive on and the lowering of artificial hills known as berms. He said the existing berms create “dead spaces” that foster less desirable activities that take place out of view.
Many local residents have complained about daytime drinking in the park by gang members and homeless people, and city officials are now crafting an ordinance that would ban alcohol consumption without a permit. But Steinmetz said new designs and higher levels of activity could help eliminate such headaches. For instance, a 10-court tennis complex capable of handling regional tournaments would make a big difference.
“When you attract activities, those other less desirable uses go away and the park starts to feel safer,” Steinmetz said.
Last week, the Las Animas Park Master Plan Task Force heard public comment on the proposed list of upgrades. In addition to a bike facility in the northwest corner of the park and an expanded tennis complex, the plans call for:
n a recreation center adjacent to the tennis center
n relocation of the basketball and handball courts and baseball fields
n a designated dog walking area
n a new wall on the south side of the park to protect homes
n improved pathways suitable for bicyclists and roller bladers
The plans represent the earliest conceptual stage of development and no cost estimates have been issued, according to Gilroy Parks and Facilities Manager Bill Headley. He said that the proposed changes would take place over more than a decade, as funds become available.
Residents can help shape the park’s design in the next month, as the task force accepts additional public comment before making final recommendations to the city’s Parks and Recreation Commissioners. The conceptual plans will undergo review by planning commissioners and City Council members by the end of summer.
