| DISTRICT 10 PARKS UPDATE The parks and trails in District 10 are some of the most beautiful in the City. I am very proud of not only these wonderful parks and trails, but the hundreds of volunteers who have taken it upon themselves to keep these valuable community resources clean, accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Given the City’s budgetary constraints, these volunteers continue to bridge the gaps in service from lower City staffing levels in order to keep these areas maintained. My office works in close collaboration with volunteers and Parks staff to ensure that our parks get the maintenance and attention they deserve. This has been especially evident in the TJ Martin and Jeffrey Fontana parks. With gophers, ground squirrels and an irrigation system three decades old, these parks have faced serious setbacks, but after meeting with the Deputy Directors of Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services (PRNS), our hardworking park supervisors, and the park maintenance staff, maintenance in these parks is getting back on track. The faulty sections of the irrigation system have been fixed/and or replaced, and the maintenance team is now being proactive in addressing issues before they get out of hand. In addition, the PRNS Staff have doubled the funding for the gopher and ground squirrel eradication project. Since taking office, my staff and I have worked closely with The Martin Fontana Parks Association to resolve a number of issues. It has always been, and will continue to be my goal to establish solid working relationships with all community stakeholders. It is this kind of collaboration and communication between residents, volunteers, the Council Office and city staff that keeps our parks beautiful. In addition to the work at TJ Martin and Jeffrey Fontana Parks, we will be hosting another clean up day at Guadalupe Oak Grove Park in mid-October. We will be sure to keep your posted so that you can join us! |
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I would be remiss if I did not thank a band of volunteers who have been around for a long time, but have recently started a new venture in Almaden Meadows Park. District 10 residents Lee Pauser, Dave Poeschel, and Pat Pizzo have recently started the Friends of Almaden Meadows volunteer group. They have adopted the park and are looking for others to join them in keeping Almaden Meadows Park beautiful. If you are interested in participating, you can join their Yahoo! group by emailing almeadows-subscribe@yahoogroups.com |
18 Sep
MARTIN-FONTANA PARKS ASSOCIATION 
Posted by Norma Campbell on September 18, 2013 at 1:27 pm
are you planning on “eradicating” the native burrowing creatures in Guadalupe Oaks or in Martin-Fontana, or both. Why dont you let nature handle things, with owls, hawks, coyotes, the occassional bobcat doing their predator job there really will be a balance sustained, and the roaming house cats.
The Parks look beautiful the members have done a wonderful job, but realize this, in doing such a grand job with plants and water you have drawn the little burrowing creatures into your park setting.
Everytime man attempts to manage nature things get worse for all parties. Please let the animals alone and let the natural level occur,
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Posted by Norma Campbell on May 13, 2014 at 2:18 pm
I left the above reply almost a year ago. Still no answer. I am asking that you leave the gophers and ground squirrels alone at lest those that reside in Guadalupe Oaks.
They are a native species and have been in the area of the Park before you or I were born. Please leave them alone, the hawks, owls, bobcats and foxes will maintain a healthy level. And in doing so will not go after pets left out doors.
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Posted by Linda Wilson on May 28, 2014 at 5:42 pm
The gophers and ground squirrels that reside in Guadalupe Oaks will not be affected by any rodent control. We are looking at a non-toxic system to bring down the population in TJ Martin and Jeffrey Fontana Park so there will be a safer lawn area for our park users. It is localized and very controlled and cannot expand to any sites in Guadalupe. We know the survival of the wildlife is dependent on this food chain.
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Posted by Norma Campbell on May 31, 2014 at 10:03 am
Hi Linda and everyone: Your reply makes me extremely happy. Everyone has done such a wonderful job with the park, but its kind of like the Field of Dreams, you build it and they will come. I would like to know what is planned on being used or what method is going to be used. I know the ground dwellers are a problem but they are just trying to survive, just as we are. We really are not much different.
But thank you for letting me know that the ground dwellers of Guadalupe Oaks will not be part of the population reduction.
I walk there 3-4 times a week and have for many many years. If I could I would move in, it is one of the very few spots in Santa Clara County on the flatland that is as it was before California became a State. It is my hope that the County of Santa Clara and the City of San Jose will leave it and its natural occupants in as much as a natural state as it is now, forever.
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