Columnists

Well it’s just about here… Saturday, Dec. 2 will be the big day that the three new downtown parks will finally open to the public.I’ve been watching the planning of these parks for close to three years, and at times they just seemed like some far-fetched and far-off dream. This city had not built a new park in almost 20 years, which seems strange for a community that is so focused on open space and parklands. The time is right.Turns out it takes a lot of planning—and it turns out that hard work, resourcefulness and timing are other prime ingredients in making things only recently dreamed a reality.The community loved the idea of a park along West Little Llagas Creek, behind Ladera Grill, M&H Tavern, Murphy’s Mercantile and Betto’s Bistro. The input from the initial community outreach meetings is actually seen in the park now. The fact that it’s more of a passive park without all the play features (now reserved for the Railroad Park), and the proposed artwork were all discussed at the meetings.Even the neighbors—one directly adjacent the park—gave feedback that was heard and incorporated. Involved neighbors are the best kind, and they have embraced the park.Right up from the Third Street Creekside Park is now Nob Hill Trail Park. The views of Morgan Hill and surrounding valley will now be featured along with a couple of big slides, trails and equipment to offer outdoor exercise in a setting that feels like a forested park far from the city’s core.Exercise equipment and walking paths aren’t particularly unique to city parks, but having two big slides coming down a signature hill right next to the downtown is.Who would’ve ever guessed that we’d really get these big slides down Nob Hill? They’re the kind of thing that just seemed like an unrealistic dream at one time. I like to believe that the support, effort and funding from the Morgan Hill Rotary Club made the difference.I believe that not only are the slides going to be a lot of fun; they will again bring attention to a community that has a zest for life and just has fun.Now that we have slides and exercise equipment right in the downtown, we can eat, shop, play, exercise, sleep, repeat… That’s an active lifestyle.The Railroad Park is going to be where the young ones get catered to. The many play features look like so much fun that I’m guessing there might be some “close adult supervision” taking place regularly right alongside the community’s children.The bright primary colors, murals and feel will hopefully offset the loss of the pop-up park which will likely go away soon. I like to think that the two pop-up parks provided plenty of inspiration for the new Railroad Park. Could the big blue chair end up there?Morgan Hill is a community that generally takes itself seriously, but these parks allow us to let our hair down a little and have some fun.The spider sculpture on the parking garage, big blue chair, and other public art also speak to our fun and sometimes whimsical side, and the outside world is recognizing us for it.John McKay is president of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association, city planning commissioner and co-founder of the Morgan Hill Tourism Alliance. He can be reached at [email protected].