Public Fountain Lacks Filter, Will Remain Closed
Eight months after tests confirmed microbes sickened seven people who played in the water at San Jose’s Plaza de Cesar Chavez, Morgan Hill officials have confirmed the public fountain at the Community and Cultural Center will remain closed until further notice.
“The city is in the process of considering a variety of water-treatment options to ensure the interactive fountain remains safe and sanitary for the enjoyment of the general public,” said Steve Rymer, director of the Morgan Hill Recreation and Community Services Department, in an e-mail.
After the public health concern last summer in San Jose, Santa Clara County health officials requested all interactive fountains be turned off until treatment systems could be installed. Rymer said the city is working with the county to address health concerns before reopening the community and cultural center’s fountain.
The popular water feature shoots jets of water that many children enjoy on hot summer days. Because the water is recycled, untreated fountains pose a health risk. Until last year, Bay Area cities and counties lacked any public oversight of fountains.
Rymer said the city is researching treatment systems and hopes to bring a recommendation to the Morgan Hill City Council soon.
Grant Allows For 100 Oak Trees
The Morgan Hill Public Works Department is planting 100 native oak trees this year thanks to a $24,000 grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The “Green Trees for the Golden State” grant pays for the trees, stakes, labor, maintenance and, most of all, the cost of watering the saplings for a two-year period. After the trees become more robust they can survive without artificial irrigation.
The city received the grant funds in January has already planted many of the trees in parks and road medians on Monterey Road and Dunne and Tennant avenues. Several trees have been planted at Nordstrom and Community parks in fringe areas the city does not normally water.
Coastal live oaks and valley oaks are tough native species adapted to Morgan Hill’s dry summers and wet winters and do not require supplemental irrigation once established. According to the city, the oak plantings will visually extend the surrounding oak woodland into the urban landscape and will provide the cooling and pollution absorbing benefits of urban trees.
On May 19 – the city’s “beautification day” – city workers will plant more oak trees at Paradise Park on Lacrosse Drive and Diana Park on Diana Avenue.
Be Beautiful on May 19
Come one, come all, May 19 is City Beautification Day. Morgan Hill residents will have an opportunity to beautify their town 8am at the Community and Cultural Center, 17000 Monterey Road. Participants should bring water, gloves and sunscreen. The city will host a barbecue lunch at the center after the event prepared by the Morgan Hill Kiwanis. All volunteers will receive a free t-shirt.
City officials will have an assortment of projects available from planting to trimming to picking up litter.
For individuals and families, the city coordinates working groups to march along the streets cleaning up litter on sidewalks and planter areas. For larger groups, typically organized by churches and service groups, the city will assign particular projects, often in a park, for the group to address. In the past, volunteers have dramatically improved the appearance of many civic areas, according to Tony Eulo, program director.
Details: 779-7247 or en*****@************ca.gov . Those interested in participating don’t need to call and can just show up on the 19 to help with the project. Groups should call Anne Beale at 776-7333 to arrange for a group project as soon as possible.
