An Innovative Approach to Improving Our Parks

What do we do when we have both a pressing problem and the funds to deal with it – yet we’re unable to match resources to needs? We have to get innovative.

For years, developers have paid into a fund to support the construction of new parks and capital improvements. This has helped build dozens of new parks, and improved our neighborhoods, giving kids and families new recreational opportunities.

Although we continue to need more parks citywide, in several older, “built-out” neighborhoods, the more critical need is the lack of maintenance and staff for the parks we have. We desperately need more park rangers and police to provide security in the Guadalupe River Park or St. James Park. We need more maintenance staff for Cesar Chavez Park. We need the help of people who can ensure our parks continue to be great places to visit.

Unfortunately, the fees paid by developers can’t be used for these purposes – state law prohibits using these fees for anything other than “capital costs.” So we have tens of millions of dollars sitting in a park trust fund, but not a dollar of it can be used to operate, maintain or improve the safety in our parks.

This week, the City Council took an important step toward a different model in one part of our City where it makes sense to refocus these dollars: our Downtown. Yesterday, we passed (by a 10-1 vote) an initiative I crafted with Mayor Reed to allow downtown developers to continue to pay into the existing fund for acquisition of new parkland – or pay into a new Downtown Parks Maintenance District.

To encourage a steady revenue stream for the Maintenance District, we allow developers to pay 50% and 75% up-front, with the requirement that over time, the project’s owners will pay annual amounts that will significantly exceed the remainder of the required fee they would otherwise pay. Some developers prefer to save on those up-front costs, and will be willing to pay more over time if they know the funding will be focused on maintaining parks used by the residents of their own projects.

More importantly, it’s better for the City’s residents because it leverages even more funding for parks, and it directs those dollars where they are more critically needed. In my book, “Safer City, Smarter Government” I devote a chapter to this and other innovative solutions because I strongly believe that we don’t need to necessarily spend more to meet the needs of our city – we need to spend smarter.

I look forward to seeing greener and safer parks in our Downtown, and as mayor, I’ll explore with our community partners expanding this initiative to other appropriate neighborhoods where this approach will work. Even in a world of scarce budgets, we can make San José safer and stronger by spending smarter.

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