John Mise Park Should Remain Public, Writer Says

Beware of privatization of your local park in San Jose

The City of San Jose, for all practical purposes, gave away a public park to a private high school (Archbishop Mitty High School, located one block from the park) despite strong opposition from local citizens. Mitty is operated by the Roman Catholic Welfare Corporation (RCWC) of San Jose which also runs a cell tower business and operates 38 private schools and three universities including Santa Clara University.

Despite strong oppositions from more than 1,300 residents and park users who have spoken at five public hearings and/or signed a petition, the mayor and eight council members of San Jose voted to enter into a public-private partnership with RCWA to turn John Mise Park into a fenced, artificial turf sports field with limited public access. Only council members Kansen Chu and Ash Kalra voted “NO” at the May 22 council meeting.

The proposed plan costs $4.4 million in bonds and Mitty will contribute less than 10 percent of the cost. However, it will have sole access to the field during prime afterschool hours from mid-August to late May, plus 20 more hours, a 31-space parking lot reserved for it on school days, private lockers and storage space, all on public park land. This is the FIRST joint partnership with a “private” entity.
The negative impact will include:

1) An area designated as having too few parks now has one fewer.

2) The city will have to spend about a $1 million from operational budget to install and maintain, and eventually replace the proposed artificial turf. Mitty will contribute about 15 percent of the cost for replacement.

3) Neighbors lose a multi-use, green, open space, community area, which will be replaced by:
- Artificial turf surrounded by an ugly fence
- Limited access to the tax-paying public
- Inability of youth teams to afford the new high rents for athletic fields
- Loss of established redwood trees, including one heritage tree
- Loss of picnic area with tables and shade trees

4) Studies (published as recently May 2012) have consistently shown that artificial turf causes serious, life changing joint (knees, ankles) injuries at almost twice the rate. Most leagues have stayed away from artificial turf for this very reason. Artificial turf also presents a hygiene problem from bodily fluids and animal droppings. The thorough cleaning needed to avoid this will further increase the cost of maintaining the new proposed sports field.

The city has ventured into privatizing public space for very little to nothing in return. Yet, Councilmember Pete Constant and park staff claimed that it's a win-win partnership. Speakers from the Parks and Recreation Department at the City Council meeting failed to be completely accurate in answers to council members. 

The mayor stated during a May 22 hearing that John Mise Park should be serving 100,000 people living in District 1 (D1) not merely the local residents. However, at the same meeting it became clear that the city expects adult teams from all over the valley to use the park, so it isn’t to serve D1.

Park neighbors were denied an active role in working on a compromise. The agreement between Mitty and the City was conducted in closed-door meetings. Councilmember Pete Constant announced to the neighbors during a recent community meeting requested by the residents that the renovations were designed “specifically to meet Mitty's desires”.

A former Mitty planning committee member stated at the Parks Commission public hearing that Mitty started a plan to take over John Mise Park in 2008. It took less than seven months for the city to approve the plan.

Any resident who opposes privatization of your local park should do your homework and vote for the right candidates this June and November because the parks staff is hunting for sites to turn local parks into artificial sports fields and is eager to partner with the RCWC.

By Harry Gingeresky, District 1 Residents in West Valley San Jose

Editor's note: San Jose's John Mise Park, located at Moorpark Avenue and Mitty Way, sits just outside of Cupertino's eastern boundary and less than a half-mile from De Vargas Elementary School, which is part of the Cupertino Union School District.