The Santa Clara City Council has approved reallocating $256,622 in state grant funds to ensure their use for local park improvements. The decision, made during a Sept. 15 vote, shifts the money from the Maywood Park Playground Rehabilitation Project to the Henry Schmidt Park Playground Rehabilitation Project. This move aims to secure state funds under Proposition 68, a statewide initiative from 2018 intended to improve local parks, which were at risk of being lost due to timeline challenges associated with the Maywood project. The proposed change still requires final approval from the California Department of Parks and Recreation.
Damon Sparacino, Santa Clara's Parks & Recreation Director, stated that the funds were transferred to Henry Schmidt Park because the city faced the possibility of losing the money entirely. Sparacino explained that the Henry Schmidt project was chosen because it is "further along in the project delivery process" and is expected to conclude before the Proposition 68 grant deadline of June 30, 2028. He added that the Henry Schmidt Park project also possesses sufficient Measure I funds to meet the grant’s required matching contributions.
City voters approved Measure I in 2024, a 30-year, $400 million infrastructure bond designed for facility repairs and upgrades, including parks. This funding source is crucial as Santa Clara faces an infrastructure deficit estimated at roughly $624 million, with over $200 million of that amount not addressed by Measure I funds. District 4 Councilmember Kevin Park, whose district includes both parks, observed that the city, despite its resources, struggles with efficient project execution.
Construction is currently underway at Henry Schmidt Park, resulting in much of the park being fenced off. However, the tennis and basketball courts remain accessible, as does a pathway leading to the community center. The extensive revamp of Henry Schmidt Park includes plans for an expanded playground, group fitness stations, enhancements to walking paths, resurfacing of the parking lot, and various lighting upgrades and other general park improvements. Suarez & Munoz Construction Inc. is overseeing the construction.
Despite the reallocation of the Proposition 68 grant, the Maywood Park project has not been canceled or altered. City officials confirmed that it remains fully funded within the city’s capital improvement program budget for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 fiscal years. Community outreach and schematic design for Maywood Park are anticipated to commence in spring 2027. Officials also clarified that replacing the Proposition 68 money with an equivalent $256,622 from Measure I funds ensures that the overall funding available for Maywood Park will not decrease.
The city’s current vision for Maywood Park includes a broader range of enhancements than those outlined in its original 2020 grant application. These expanded plans encompass significant playground accessibility and safety upgrades, improvements to sports courts, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) upgrades, the addition of a walking loop, new lighting, and a new shade structure. The estimated cost for the Maywood Park project has also increased, now projected to exceed $5 million, compared to the initial estimate of over $2 million in the original grant application.
Maywood Park, situated on Pruneridge Avenue near a school, currently has open access across much of its grounds. Its existing amenities, including the playground and tennis courts, are operational, and the park’s restrooms are functioning. Wesley Dudzinski, a Santa Clara resident who frequently uses Maywood Park, noted its quiet, green surroundings and low-traffic environment. While he observes the park could benefit from more shade during summer months, he has found the current facilities to be usable.
This strategic funding shift aims to maximize state resources for park improvements across Santa Clara, ensuring that grant deadlines are met while still advancing long-term plans for all affected parks.
