Downtown Morgan Hill’s “Pop-Up Park 2.0” celebrated its grand opening June 10 with the fanfare of playing children, local artwork, pickup checkers games, impromptu piano performances—and even the appearance of rescued wild animals.
The new, temporary park opened on the corner of Second Street and Monterey Road, on property owned by downtown restaurateur Dan McCranie. It is in fact a relocation of the pop-up park previously located at Third Street and Monterey Road. The facility had to abandon that location because the developer is preparing to begin construction on a four-restaurant complex.
But the new pop-up park contains all the attractions of the previous version, in a slightly smaller space and with a few new additions—including an outdoor piano hand-painted by Morgan Hill artist Lina Velasquez. As children, families, city officials and volunteers gathered just prior to the grand opening ceremony June 10, Karen Nelson graced the piano’s keys with lively renditions of Walt Disney favorites and other classics.
New, movable picnic tables offer a seat for parents to rest while they watch their children play, or for youngsters of all ages to challenge a friend to a game of chess or checkers.
About half a dozen mature orchard trees, growing from giant planters scattered throughout the park, provide shade and ambiance. The trees and planters were donated to the city park by the American Institute of Mathematics and George Chiala Farms, according to Mayor Steve Tate.
Artwork that decorated the first version of the pop-up park—including a giant mural created by Empire7 Studio which adorned the wall of the former Simple Beverages building—has reappeared at the new park. A wall shared with the neighboring restaurant on the southern edge of the park is a giant chalkboard, where kids and artists are encouraged to produce their own creations.
A repurposed newspaper rack on the Second Street side of the park allows park users to share and donate children’s books.
“I drove by here this morning and my jaw dropped,” Tate told the crowd into a portable PA system, while standing atop the giant Adirondack chair that moved to the site from the park’s previous location.
Tate explained that McCranie, owner of Ladera Grill, is donating the use of his property for the city and the public to use as a park until he starts out on his plans to build a temporary commercial structure.
The mayor listed a host of companies and residents who donated items and labor for the park, including TenCate for the artificial turf, Kent Construction and City Hall’s economic development staff headed by Edith Ramirez.
He also commended Morgan Hill resident and Downtown Association Interim President John McKay, who stayed at the park site into the early morning hours the days preceding its opening to make sure it was ready by June 10.
“It’s a jewel of the downtown,” McKay said.
Morgan Hill resident Maria Pareja and her 4-year-old grandson Michael Vasques were enjoying the park’s new opening. They frequented the pop-up park at its previous location, and they expect to continue to do so at the new site.
“It’s great for the kids,” Pareja said.
