Coyote Creek Education Expansion

The Authority helped to fund the San Jose Children’s Discovery Museum’s Happy Trails Project, which offers a free, multiple-experience program addressing the lack of opportunities for today’s urban children to connect with nature. Happy Trails blazes a path for diverse, primarily low-income children and families to explore nature's health benefits and natural resources of the Santa Clara Valley through facilitated programming in the Museum's unique outdoor learning environment and nearby Guadalupe River, guided activities and trail hikes at open space preserves, and a fun nature festival.

Growing Sustainably, a signature CommUniverCity SJSU program, is developing and delivering new curriculum connecting wildlife appreciation, Green STEM careers, and climate resilience to expand its programming. It is teaching 905 Central San Jose k-8th grade students living in underserved communities about local flora and fauna through urban habitat gardening. Additionally, the program is organizing grade level-appropriate environmental science career fairs using hands-on activities and field trips. Central San Jose program participants have multiple opportunities to garden, observe wildlife, learn about green STEM careers, visit the SJSU campus, enjoy natural areas, and address environmental issues relevant to them.

The Authority contributed funds toward the City of Morgan Hill's expansion and relocation of the Morgan Hill Community Garden to a new site. The Garden outgrew its past temporary location and the site is programmed for redevelopment in the near future. This new permanent location enabled the Garden group to expand its services and make permanent improvements to the site that will serve the community for decades to come. In addition to doubling the number of garden plots, the new location includes a restroom, new native habitat, and enhanced accessibility for members with limited mobility.