On May 22, the downtown business community and City Hall will celebrate the grand opening of a new temporary “pop-up park” in the parking of the former liquor store, located at the southeast corner of Third Street and Monterey Road. The park is part of the city’s downtown “placemaking” strategy. “The park will be fun, create a family gathering space and showcase many of the mini-grant art projects,” said city spokeswoman Maureen Tobin. The park will include a bicycle repair hub with bike racks, a historic bike map, hydration station and a “fix-it station.” Also featured will be a giant Adirondack chair, tables, chairs, umbrellas, benches made out of recycled propane tanks, festival lighting and artificial turf. The park will also include a “kids’ corner.” Pictured above is another public art mini-grant project, a mural painted on the front of the old liquor store building by Empire 7 Studio in San Jose. Artist Z Mesngr said the characters in the mural are based on one of his favorite films, “The Triplets of Belleville.” The grand opening celebration will take place 12 to 2 p.m. May 22.
