May 27, 2004

Community celebrates grand opening of Glenview
children’s play lot

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

Appreciative community members turned out at Glenview Park Saturday to celebrate the opening of their colorful new children’s play lot. Vice Mayor Pat Dando—with an enormous pair of golden scissors—led the ribbon cutting ceremony with the aid of Williams Elementary School Principal Sue Walker and some very excited children.

“We’re having this grand reopening of the play lot for the community because so many children come here with their families,” commented Denelle Fedor, legislative assistant to Vice Mayor Pat Dando. “Not only that, but you can come down here and play a game of catch, walk your dog, or sit under a tree on a bench. There’s a new water fountain as well, so it’s really nice here. We even did daffodil planting with children from Williams Elementary School, who adopted the park.”

Fedor said that renovating the playground was important to keep it safe and secure for children. “It’s nice to look at, and the colors are bright and appealing for kids—even the benches are red,” Fedor remarked. “And the play lot pieces include moving parts that the children can operate and feel. There are swings for babies and older children, and things the children can climb on and hold.”

There were smiles all around as children eagerly climbed upon the new play structure, swung across monkey bars, and glided down slides before lining up for face painting and mouth-watering, giant-sized cookies.
Fire fighters and police officers joined the celebration by welcoming children to explore their vehicles, and police officers from the K-9 division educated and entertained the crowd with action-packed demonstrations of the training their dogs have undergone.

Police Lt. Richard Calderon introduced his K-9 officers Washington, Daysog, and Murray and their police dogs. “We want the community to become familiar with the tasks of the K-9 officers and the K-9s themselves and let them know how trained they are,” he said. “Bloodhounds can track lost people by smelling skin cells, and German Shepherds can give chase or find drugs or bombs.” In their K-9 unit, as the dogs came from all over the world, the officers learned to speak to them in their native languages. “These dogs are an integral part of providing safety to San Jose,” he added.

“I can’t say how pleased I am to see so many community members and children here,” Dando remarked. “Because that’s what this park is all about.” Dando thanked the police officers and fire fighters for being there, as well as Leland High School student Kelly Carter, who filed for a grant to provide refreshments for the community celebration. She also thanked Williams Elementary School Principal Sue Walker and her fifth graders for their involvement with the park.

“In 1986, this park was set aside for the neighborhood, but the equipment was getting old,” noted Dando. “About 18 months ago, the city started planning for the park, and set aside $200,000 to provide [equipment] for the kind of park the residents wanted.” Dando hoped that parents who grew up in the neighborhood would return to the park to enjoy it with their own children. “Children, this park is for you!” she exclaimed. “It was built for you. I hope you’ll take care of it and enjoy it for many years to come.”

“We’re very excited. We really like it,” enthused parent Monique Guerra. “The kids enjoy it. My daughter likes the slides, and my son likes the climbing structure. The city’s done a great job and we’re very happy with it.”

“Last year, our fifth grade class adopted the park as part of our community service project,” shared Williams Elementary School Principal Sue Walker. “The play lot is really great. We just had our kindergarten orientation and one of the parents has organized a play group here over the summer. It’s a great place to build relationships.”

“We live right up the hill and it’s so nice for a mother of two children to be able to walk to the park in the afternoon,” commented parent Renay Rosckes. “Previously, this wasn’t a safe park for a young child [the wooden equipment was splintering and there wasn’t a retaining wall keeping children safe from traffic]. I think it’s really great now that we have something nearby.”

“It’s important to have a local park where children can play, develop memories, and grow up in,” contends Melina Iglesias, special events coordinator for Park and Recreational Services. “In any neighborhood, to have a safe playground, and a place where children can ride their bikes and play sports, has tremendous value in their lives.”

“I think the most important reason to have parks and communities is so families can get to know each other,” observed Dando. “I’m amazed at the number of children who are instrumental in helping neighbors get to meet each other, because they bring their child here to play, and as they’re playing, the adults talk to each other, and pretty soon strong relationships are built. So, it’s not only important for our children to have a healthy place to play, but it builds community.”

The vice mayor involved the children in the ribbon cutting ceremony, urging them to join in a circle and take hold of the ribbon. “What I hope is that the children will remember this,” Dando expressed. “Their parents have taken pictures, and sometime in the future they may remind their child that they were a part of the opening of this park, and that this park was built because of them. Hopefully, that will be their first activity in public involvement, and we’ll see some of these young people active in years to come.”