Edith Morley Park

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.

Veggielution’s Field to Farm Stand project builds on the momentum of an 18-month land use planning process for the six-acre community farm, completed in September 2019 with support from Open Space Authority. This project takes the ideas surfaced in the land use plan to the next stage, in the form of a comprehensive site design. With a site design in place, Veggielution will be positioned to invest in final construction documents and the build out of a new produce packing station, which will be more centrally located, enabling the organization to more efficiently and safely expand their farm box distribution to 500 boxes or more per week. The site plan and capital improvements will allow Veggielution to expand their urban farm more intentionally, to better support public health and local agriculture on behalf of the beautiful but underserved East San José community and the County of Santa Clara overall.

The Authority contributed funds to the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council for the Gateway to Trails and Parks: Ridge Trail Interpretive, Wayfinding and Outings project at Berryessa BART Station. The project used the opening of the new Berryessa BART station to introduce and connect the public to the outstanding network of trails, parks, and open space in Santa Clara County. The Berryessa station includes a new section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail and connects directly to the Penitencia Creek Trail and other trails, offering access to many nearby parks and open spaces. This project promotes exciting new opportunities to combine transit and trails for recreation and transportation.