TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Jon Cicirelli
SUBJECT: See Below DATE: November 17, 2025
Approved Date:
11/21/25
CO
UNCIL DISTRICT: 2
S
UBJECT: Adoption of an Official Park Name for a New Public Park at Senter Road and Serenade Way
RECOMMENDATION
A
dopt “Tsugio Fujimoto Park” as the official name for the park located along Senter Road between Serenade Way and Diamond Heights Drive, as recommended by staff and the Parks and Recreation Commission and as a result of the public outreach process.
SUMMARY AND OUTCOME
A
pproval of the recommendation will officially name a new park located at Senter Road and Serenade Way and with City Council approval the park site will also be designated as chartered parkland.1
BACKGROUND
T
he new 0.36-acre pocket park is located along Senter Road between Serenade Way and Diamond Height Drive.2 The park is situated on a triangular piece of City of San José (City)-owned land previously occupied by an underutilized traffic island and is bounded by housing on all three sides. The site is on the southern edge of the South San José Planning Area in Council District 2 (Attachment A – Location Map). A former 1 The park site is on City-owned land currently held by the Department of Transportation. The Department of Transportation intends to transition this site to chartered parkland in 2026. 2 A pocket park is a small outdoor space, usually no more than ¼ acre that provides a safe and inviting environment for surrounding community members.
COUNCIL AGENDA: 12/9/25
FILE: 25-1281
ITEM: 2.10
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
November 17, 2025
Subject: Adoption of an Official Park Name for a New Public Park at Senter Road and Seren ade Way
Cold War era Civil Defense siren is located on the site.3 The park provides walking, fitness opportunities, and a gathering space for the local community. Improvements include a native pollinator garden and new shade trees.
The park site was developed outside of the City’s conventional master planning process. The concept of a park site started in 2021 through efforts lead by the Council District 2 Office (Council Office). In the spring of 2023, the Council Office conducted initial community outreach via a survey that led to the planning of the park site.
The Mayor’s June Budget Message for Fiscal Year 2023-2024 directed the City Manager to allocate $250,000 in one-time funding from the District’s “C&C Fund towards the undeveloped island on Senter Road near Serenade Way to transform the often blighted space into a beautiful location that neighbors can appreciate. 4 The 2023-
2024 Adopted Budget provided funding to convert the 0.36-acre parcel into a future park to increase recreational opportunities for the surrounding community.5
The community participated in the park planning process via a community survey initiated by the Council Office and a community meeting. On January 17, 2024, staff presented park concepts for feedback. In summary, the community voiced an interest in active and passive recreational amenities. The proposed amenities included exercise equipment, curved walking paths, game tables, benches, native plants/trees, and a pollinator garden. Instead of benches, another type of seating was provided at game tables. The park design is consistent with the community input. The park opened in December 2024. A park sign will be installed in summer or fall of 2026.
In addition, staff advanced a park naming process. Community members who participated in online public surveys expressed a preference (39%) to name this park “Fujimoto Park” to commemorate Tsugio ‘Tee’ Fujimoto and reflect on his years of service to the City of San José as a supervisor and park gardener (Attachment B – Online Public Survey Results). Staff recommends adopting the full name, “Tsugio Fujimoto Park” to more accurately honor the individual, Tsugio Fujimoto.
3 Civil Defense Sirens and fallout shelters were installed throughout the 1950s and 1960s. The siren in the park site was manufactured by Federal Siren and Signal. Civil Defense Sirens were abandoned in the 1980s with the end of the Cold War.
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/e7ec197777d148afa8b78e361532e369#data_s=id%3AdataSou rce_4-DOT_Streetlight_8542%3A25
4 June Budget Message for Fiscal Year 2023-2024, June 7, 2023, Page 16, https://www.sanjoseca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/106328/638340101349570000 5 Senter Road Parcel Development, 2023-2024 Adopted Capital Budget & 2024-2028 Adopted Capital Improvement Program, page 448,
https://www.sanjoseca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/106302/638343650676570000
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
November 17, 2025
Subject: Adoption of an Official Park Name for a New Public Park at Senter Road and Seren ade Way
On October 1, 2025, the Parks and Recreation Commission recommended naming the park site, “Fujimoto Park” based on staff’s recommendation, public outreach and public feedback.6
ANALYSIS
City Council Policy 7-5, Naming of City-Owned Land and Facilities, (Policy 7-5) establishes guidelines and procedures regarding naming City-owned land and facilities that are not public streets. Per Policy 7-5, the official names must reflect at least one of the following criteria:
• Geographic location;
• Prominent geographic feature or local reference point; • Adjoining subdivision/community;
• Historical event;
• An individual who has made significant contributions to San José, the state, the Nation, or the World and who has been deceased for at least five years; • An individual via a donation or sponsorship agreement; or • A group via a donation or sponsorship agreement.
Additionally, Policy 7-5 encourages names that reflect the City’s ethnic and cultural diversity. Staff will recommend names that reflect the intention of Policy 7-5 as well as names that align with the City’s Racial Equity commitment. 7 Staff finds that naming the park “Tsugio Fujimoto Park” aligns with the City’s naming policy, most community participants, and the City’s objective for an inclusive and equitable park system.
The name, “Tsugio Fujimoto Park” reflects a deceased individual who made significant contributions to San José. Tsugio ‘Tee’ Fujimoto was an active member of the San José Landscape Gardeners Association and served as a landscape maintenance supervisor for the Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department (the Department) from the late 1950’s until his retirement in 1982 (See Figure 1 for an image of Tsugio ‘Tee’ Fujimoto).
8 Tsugio ‘Tee’ Fujimoto was commonly known as ‘Tee’ among his coworkers within the Department. Four retired gardeners suggested this park name to honor Tee’s high regard among his peers and “as a memory and tribute to his important
6 October 1, 2025, Parks and Recreation Commission Agenda:
https://www.sanjoseca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/124753/638947580826000000 7 Equity Values and Standards Policy, Council Policy 0-22, RES2024-140, Item 3.5(b), 5/14/2024:
https://www.sanjoseca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/114681/638627814182830000 8 Obituary for Tsugio Fujimoto (April 30, 1920 – July 15, 2015) Tsugio ‘Tee’ Fujimoto lived in San José for several decades while working for the City’s Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department, https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/mercurynews/name/tsugio-fujimoto-obituary?id=8106662
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
November 17, 2025
Subject: Adoption of an Official Park Name for a New Public Park at Senter Road and Seren ade Way
work for the City of San José Parks Department” and for “his important role influencing a viable department as it expanded” (Attachment C – Analysis of Name Suggestions Received). His extensive knowledge of plants helped to guide the expansion and refining of parks development from 1957 to 1982. Tsugio ‘Tee’ Fujimoto supervised staff at the Municipal Rose Garden, the Japanese Friendship Garden, Kelley Park, City Hall, the Performing Arts Center, the Convention Center, and Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, as well as other locations. Those that worked with Tsugio ‘Tee’ Fujimoto describe him as very knowledgeable in his field of expertise, well-respected, and dedicated. Tsugio ‘Tee’ Fujimoto lived less than a block away from the Senter and Serenade park site.
Figure 1: Image of Tsugio ‘Tee’ Fujimoto
Image from the Densho Digital Repository in 1963 showing Tsugio Fujimoto working on the San José Landscape Gardeners Association newsletter.9
9 Cropped image of Tsugio Fujimoto in 1963, titled “George Hirano and Tsugio Fujimoto – Technicians,” in the San José Landscape Gardeners Association Photographic Collection, in Densho Digital Repository https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-jamsj-1-231/
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
November 17, 2025
Subject: Adoption of an Official Park Name for a New Public Park at Senter Road and Seren ade Way
Policy Alternatives
Alternative #1: The City Council could select an alternative park name from the list of eligible names generated through the public outreach process.
Pros: The City Council could adopt a different name from the list of qualifying names received through the public outreach process. Fujimoto Park, Serenade Park, and Clara Shortridge Foltz Park were the highest-ranked names in the public survey and would honor a local reference point and deceased individuals.
Cons: The City Council would be selecting a name other than the one recommended by the Parks and Recreation Commission and the results of the community surveys.
Reason for not recommending: Members of the Fujimoto family support the name “Tsugio Fujimoto Park.” It is consistent with public input and the Parks and Recreation Commission’s recommendation.
Alternative #2: The City Council could suggest one or more new names per Council Policy.
Pros: The City Council would be selecting a new name other than the one recommended by the Parks and Recreation Commission and the results of the community surveys.
Cons: The City Council would be selecting a name other than the one recommended by the Parks and Recreation Commission and the results of the community surveys. Additionally, the City Council would be selecting a name not previously considered by the community and the new name might not comply with Policy 7-5, which may result in delaying the naming.
Reason for not recommending: Members of the Fujimoto family support the name “Tsugio Fujimoto Park.” It is consistent with public input and the Parks and Recreation Commission’s recommendation.
Racial Equity Impact Analysis
The name, “Fujimoto Park,” represents a Japanese American internment camp survivor and veteran.
10 Tsugio was among approximately 33,000 Japanese Americans who
10 Tsugio Fujimoto served in the US Army during his family’s forced internment in World War II. Source:
Tsugio Fujimoto, World War II Memorial Registry: https://wwiiregistry.abmc.gov/honoree-search- results/?first_name=Tsugio&last_name=Fujimoto&hometown=isleton&branch_code=2&state_code= - 1277&db_code%5B%5D=R&db_code%5B%5D=W
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
November 17, 2025
Subject: Adoption of an Official Park Name for a New Public Park at Senter Road and Seren ade Way
voluntarily served during World War II despite being confined in internment camps.11 Tsugio ‘Tee’ Fujimoto was a World War II internment camp survivor who deeply valued the City job he received after returning from internment.12 This history enriches the park’s name, showing how naming public spaces can honor untold stories, address past injustices, and build community identity.
EVALUATION AND FOLLOW-UP
Once a name is adopted, staff will coordinate with the City Clerk’s Office to ensure the name is recorded and the Public Works Department to include the name on all park signage.
COORDINATION
The memorandum has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office and City Manager’s Budget Office.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
This memorandum will be posted on the City’s Council Agenda website for the December 9, 2025 City Council meeting.
The Department completed a multi-phase public participation process that consisted of two community meetings and two online surveys. The process allowed the community to engage in the development of the conceptual park designs and name options for the park site.
In May 2023, the Council Office circulated a survey to engage residents and gain an understanding of the community’s priority for the use of the space (Attachment D – Survey Circulated by Council District 2 in May 2023). On January 17, 2024, the Council Office hosted a community meeting at Christopher Elementary School. Approximately 20 community members attended the meeting.
11 Of the approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans forcibly confined into internment camps, more than 33,000 Japanese American citizens voluntarily served in the military during World War II while their families remained confined in internment camps. ”Japanese Americans At War,” World War II Memorial, National Parks Service: https://www.nps.gov/wwii/learn/historyculture/japanese-americans-at-war.htm .
12 This would be the second park honoring a Japanese American internment camp survivor, following City Council’s April 29, 2025, adoption of the name “Eiichi Edward Sakauye Park.” Additionally, two City facilities already recognize the City’s Japanese American heritage: the Japanese Friendship Garden in Kelley Park and the Shirakawa Community Center, named for Councilmember George Shirakawa Senior.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
November 17, 2025
Subject: Adoption of an Official Park Name for a New Public Park at Senter Road and Seren ade Way
During the community meeting, staff presented themed concepts. Members of the community voiced an interest in exercise equipment, curved pathways, game tables, benches, a pollinator garden, and California native plants and trees. The community input informed the final park design. The park was officially opened to the public on December 9, 2024.
Staff used the December 9, 2024, ribbon cutting ceremony as an opportunity to kick off the park naming community engagement process. Public engagement consisted of two online community surveys and an in-person community meeting.
The first online public survey (December 7 to December 23, 2024) opened immediately prior to the December 9, 2024, ribbon cutting ceremony. Survey participants were provided a list of name suggestions and given the opportunity to suggest additional name suggestions. Staff received 129 responses to the survey (Attachment B). In addition to the name suggestions provided by staff, the first online survey resulted in 21 name suggestions with five qualifying names that aligned with Policy 7-5. Additionally, a name suggestion, was received via a letter resulting in the “Fujimoto Park” name suggestion, raising the total number of name suggestions to 22. Similar and redundant name suggestions were combined to allow the public to vote on a qualified list of name options (Attachment C).
On May 27, 2025, staff presented the park naming to the Melody-Serenade Neighborhood Association. A total of nine attendees attended the meeting, including members of the neighborhood association, the Council Office councilmember and staff, and a retired gardener who spoke on behalf of the “Fujimoto Park” name recommendation. The neighborhood association livestreamed the meeting. Staff provided an update on the park naming, reviewed the results of the first online survey, provided an overview of the naming process, reviewed the name options for the second public survey, and encouraged the public to complete the online survey.
The second online public survey (May 27 to June 11, 2025) opened immediately following the presentation to the neighborhood association. Participants ranked the name options in the order of their preference. Staff received 122 responses to the survey, which resulted in the following name preference order: 1) Fujimoto Park; 2) Serenade Park; and 3) Clara Shortridge Foltz Park.
13 The response with the largest
weighted score informed staff’s recommendation for the park site.
The community was notified of the meeting and surveys via the following methods:
• Targeted social media notification through the Department’s Facebook, Nextdoor.com, Instagram, and Facebook accounts to residents within two miles
13 Staff recommends adopting the full name, “Tsugio Fujimoto Park,” to more accurately honor the individual, Tsugio Fujimoto.
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
November 17, 2025
Subject: Adoption of an Official Park Name for a New Public Park at Senter Road and Seren ade Way
of the development site. In total, the social media blasts resulted in 5,238 impressions, 36 interactions, and a reach of 4,899 on Facebook; 413 impressions on Nextdoor.com; and a reach of 3,789 and 155 interactions on Instagram.
• Email notifications sent include the Melody-Serenade Neighborhood Association, Council District 2 staff, Seven Trees Branch Library, six schools within a 10- minute walk of the park site, Project Hope staff, San José Parks Advocates, San José Parks Foundation, over 40 community organizations, and various individuals. In total, 15 email blasts resulted in over 1,156 email notifications sent to the constituents listed above.
The survey and outreach materials were made available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. The first survey received responses in English only. The second community survey received 122 responses in English and four responses in Spanish.
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION AND INPUT
The Parks and Recreation Commission considered the staff recommended name, “Fujimoto Park” during the October 1, 2025, meeting.
14 A member of the Fujimoto family
and two retired gardeners spoke on behalf of the staff recommendation during the meeting. Additionally, two public comment letters supporting the name recommendation were read aloud. During the public comments, the family member shared that Tsugio ‘Tee’ Fujimoto was a World War II internment camp survivor who deeply valued his City job after losing everything during internment.15 Tsugio ‘Tee’ Fujimoto was also a veteran who served in the armed forces during his forced internment.
Staff committed to reach out separately to the public commenters to capture the stories and make them available to the public.
Vice Chair Barocio motioned to approve the Park Naming for the Senter and Serenade item, which was seconded by Commissioner Morrow. The motion was carried (8-0-2, Snider and Garcia-Barnwell absent).
14 Parks and Recreation Commission Agendas and Minutes: https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your- government/departments-offices/parks-recreation-neighborhood-services/get-involved/boards- commissions/parks-recreation-commission
15 Tsugio Fujimoto’s family was interned in several locations, beginning with Walerga Assembly Center near Sacramento, followed by Tule Lake, Jerome, and Rohwer internment camps. During internment, the family lost their home and business as well as their possessions. Source: Interview transcript of Tsugio’s sister, Betty Kashiwagi in ”Preserving California’s Japantowns Collection, Densho Digital Archive, Segments 11 and 12, December 8, 2009: https://ddr.densho.org/media/ddr-densho-1010/ddr-densho- 1010-2-transcript-16aa54b7e3.htm
HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
November 17, 2025
Subject: Adoption of an Official Park Name for a New Public Park at Senter Road and Seren ade Way
CEQA
Not a Project. File No. PP17-008, General Procedure and Policy Making resulting in no changes to the physical environment.
PUBLIC SUBSIDY REPORTING
This item does not include a public subsidy as defined in section 53083 or 53083.1 of the California Government Code or the City’s Open Government Resolution.
/s/
Jon Cicirelli
Director, Parks, Recreation, and
Neighborhood Services Department
For questions, please contact Rebekah Ross, Planner IV, Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department, by email at [email protected].
The principal author of this memorandum is Marybeth Bowman, Part-Time Planner, Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department. For questions, please contact by email at [email protected].
ATTACHMENTS
A. Location Map
B. Online Public Survey Results
C. Analysis of Name Suggestions Received
D. Survey Circulated by Council District 2 in May 2023
ATTACHMENT A: LOCATION MAP
Figure 1: Site Location Map
Figure 2: Regional Location Map
1 1
ATTACHMENT B: ONLINE PUBLIC SURVEY RESULTS
Survey 1: Name Suggestions ....................................................................................... 1 Survey 2: Park Naming Ranking .................................................................................. 7
Survey 1: Name Suggestions
2 (Survey Question 2, ranking of staff-provided name suggestions)
3 4
5 6
7 Survey 2: Park Naming Ranking
Question 2 Name Ranking Results (Consolidated Results: English and Spanish responses combined)
8 1
ATTACHMENT C: ANALYSIS OF NAME SUGGESTIONS RECEIVED
Senter and Serenade Survey #1 – Analysis of Name Suggestions Table of Contents
1. Staff Suggested Potential Names (From Survey#1) ........................................................................................ 1
2. Question 2 Survey Results – Ranking of Staff Name Suggestions .................................................................. 2
3. Response Rate to Survey Results .................................................................................................................... 2
4. Frequency of Name Suggestions (Received from Survey Respondents) ........................................................ 3
5. Name Suggestions Received Via Form (Letter) ............................................................................................... 4
6. Analysis of Name Suggestions (Received from Survey Respondents) ............................................................ 5
7. Name Options for the Ranked Choice Voting Survey (Survey #2) ................................................................ 10
1. Staff Suggested Potential Names (From Survey#1)
These names were included in the survey document. Based on the context of the site and research that was conducted, staff came up with these name suggestions for the park site. Each of these names meet the naming criteria defined in Council Policy 7-5, Naming of City-Owned Land Facilities.
Survey participants were offered both the opportunity to rank the staff name suggestions in order of preference as well as the opportunity to offer additional name suggestions.
Staff Name
Suggestion Reasoning/Background for the Name Suggestion Acorn Parklet References the presence of acorns on the ground and oak trees on the site.
Serenade Park
References the adjacent street, Serenade Way, and also honors the musical theme of the adjacent neighborhood. The streets in the immediate neighborhood have musical themed names, such as Serenade Drive, Concerto Drive, Rhapsody Way, Symphony Lane, and Lullaby Lane.
Siren Park
References the prominent geographical feature on the site, the Cold War era Civil Defense Siren. Civil Defense Sirens and fallout shelters were installed throughout the 1950s and 1960s. The sirens were used throughout the Cold War to alert residents of a potential missile strike. These sirens were scattered throughout and were typically located in areas that were once near the City boundary.
Woodwind Pocket
Park
Denotes a musical instrument, or woodwind, while playing off the idea of a “woodland.” The park site has several trees on it.
2 2. Question 2 Survey Results – Ranking of Staff Name Suggestions Question 2, Ranking of Staff Name Suggestions
Return to Table of Contents
3. Response Rate to Survey Results
Do you want to suggest an additional name for consideration? Count of
Response
No (This will complete the survey) 73
Yes (You will be directed to fill out a form with your name suggestion) 24 Skipped 32
Total: 129
Return to Table of Contents
3 4. Frequency of Name Suggestions (Received from Survey Respondents)
Row Labels
Count of NAME
SUGGESTION:
1777 1
Alma Perdida 2
Alma Perdida (Lost Souls) 1
Alma Perdida [LostSouls] 1
Alma Perdidas 1
Almas Perdidas (Lost Souls) 1
Clara Foltz 1
Harmony Park; Symphony Park; 1
Long Pham Memorial Park 1
Memorial for those Lost on the Streets 1
Peace Parklet 1
Phoenix Community Park 1
Roberto Clemente Park 1
Rudd Park 1
S&S Junction Park 1
SENTER OF SERENITY 1
Senter Serenade Park 1
Serenade Oaks Park 1
Stanley Rudd Park 1
The Turnabout Triangle Park 1
Fujimoto Park (name suggestion received through a letter endorsed by 4 individuals) 1
Grand Total 22
Return to Table of Contents
4 5. Name Suggestions Received Via Form (Letter)
5 6. Analysis of Name Suggestions (Received from Survey Respondents) Analysis of Question 4, “What name are you proposing?”
Name Suggestion Survey (Survey #1) Results & Analysis
(Staff reviewed the name suggestions for compliance with the City's Naming Policy) Table Legend
Name complies with the City's Naming Policy (Green row) Name does NOT comply with the City's Naming Policy (Red row) *Similar names that were consolidated/combined (Name suggestion with *) Multiple name submissions by same respondent (Yellow row) #
Proposed Name
(As submitted by
respondent)
Reasoning
(As submitted by respondent)
Does Name Comply with the
City's Naming Policy?
(Staff analysis)
1 1777
Historical event. The year San Jose was
founded.
No, although the founding of
San José was a historical
event, this is too broad of a
description for a small park.
Additionally, the use of a
stand-alone number is not
desirable for a park name.
2 Alma Perdida*
(Alma Perdida
(Lost Souls),
Alma Perdidas,
etc)
(Six suggestions received with variations of
Alma Perdida.) A Historical event. “For the
last five years, including this one, several
“lost souls” or “Alma Perdida” have died in
95111, near this location. They have died
from hyperthermia, vehicle incidents,
suicide, drug incidents and more. We
should recognize the loss of these local
“lost souls.” “Numerous unhoused people
have perished at or near this site. Source:
Coroner.” This honors the unhoused
people who have died in this Zip code in
the last 5 years.” “The lost souls of folks
who have lived in this community,
unsheltered, can be honored.” “This would
be a loving, respectful, and sobering tribute
to the lives of the unhoused people who
have died in 95111 in the last 5 years.”
No, because the name does
not align with the applicable
criteria. A dditionally, the name
is too similar to an existing
community center, Alma
Community Center, and could
cause confusion for visitors.
3 Clara Foltz Park
First woman lawyer in San Jose, died in
1934.
Yes, because the individual
referenced (Clara Shortridge
Foltz) has been deceased for
at least 5 years (1849-1934)
and made significant
contributions to the City and to
the State. Clara Shortridge
Foltz was the first woman ever
6 admitted to the bar in
California. She also helped
pave the way for the
establishment of public
defenders. Clara Shortridge
Foltz moved to San José in
1875.
Pictured: Clara Shortridge
Foltz
Source 1: Barrier Breaker
Source 2: First Female Lawyer
Source 3: Lawyer and
Reformer
Source 4: Biography
4 Fujimoto Park
(Name
suggestion
submitted via a
letter in lieu of
Name Suggestion
Form)
Four retired PRNS gardeners submitted
this name to honor Tsugio ‘Tee’ Fujimoto
for their respect of “his knowledge and
dedication to landscape maintenance.” “Mr.
Fujimoto resided two houses from the park
on the south side of Senter Road. ‘Tee’
embodied the idea that every park
landscape should be well kept and
attended to routinely by parks staff. He
believed that if someone was not tired at
the end of the day, they were not doing
their job right.” “We who knew him
appreciated his knowledge, respect, and
attention to detail to help make park
maintenance staff better. He was known to
Yes, because the individual
referenced (Tsugio ‘Tee’
Fujimoto) has been deceased
for at least 5 years (1920 -
2015) and lived near the site
at 360 Senter Road and made
significant contributions to the
Department of Parks,
Recreation and Neighborhood
Services (PRNS) and to the
City of San José. Mr. Fujimoto
was a highly regarded San
José parks gardener and
parks maintenance supervisor,
known among his peers for his
respect, attention to detail,
7 the Japanese community for his integral
membership in the active Japanese
Landscape Gardeners Association that was
viable in the San Jose community in the
1950s, 60s, and 70s.” His work was “highly
regarded and referred to when the City of
San José was expanding and refining its
parks development from 1957 to 1985. We
who worked for or with Mr. Fujimoto feel he
best represents the spirit and integrity of
the San Jose Parks Department. Tee was
never given recognition for his important
role influencing a viable department as it
expanded. We feel it is befitting and
deserved that this newly developer park
bears his name as a memory and tribute to
his important work for the City of San Jose
Parks Department.”
practical knowledge, and
mentorship. His knowledge of
plants helped to guide the
expansion and refining of
parks development from 1957
to 1985.
Source 1: Legacy Obituary
Source 2: Mercury News
Obituary
5 Harmony
Park/Symphony
Park
An adjoining subdivision or community.
Each name will flow with the theme of the
nearby subdivision homes within walking
distance to the pocket park.
No because the name does
not meet the applicable criteria
and is too similar to an existing
park name, “Melody Park.”
6. Long Pham
Memorial Park
Long Pham is a fallen Community Service
Officer.
No, the individual referenced
(Long Pham) has not been
deceased for at least 5 years
(1989-2024). Long Pham
passed away in 2024.
Source 1: Obituary
Source 2: SJPD Fallen
Officers
Source 3: News Article about
Funeral
Source 4: News Article abo ut
Memorial
Long Pham’s name and
information will be included in
our Inventory of Eligible
names for future consideration
starting in 2029.
7. Memorial for
those lost on the
streets
We lose hundreds of unhoused residents
every year, and we should make this a
visible thing to bring awareness to people
to take action.
No, because the name does
not align with the applicable
criteria.
8 8. Peace Parklet
This is a more aspirational name than
purely historical (though the word peace
represents the peace times after all wars
the US has been involved in). Peace is
something the world needs now and
always. Also, there’s the ‘P’ alliteration and
the name is short since it’s a small park.
No, because the name does
not align with the applicable
criteria.
9. Phoenix
Community Park
How about “Phoenix Park”? You know, the
Greek, Egyptian and Persian myth of the
bird reborn from its own ashes. Cool
analogy to the land reclaimed from dirt and
dis-use! Would make no for some attractive
signage, TOOooo!
No, because the name does
not align with the applicable
criteria.
10 .
Roberto
Clemente Park
Roberto Clemente was an important figure
for the game of baseball and people
everywhere. Major League Baseball has an
annual award in his name for the player
that “best exemplifies the game of baseball,
sportsmanship, community involvement
and the individual’s contribution to his
team.” Clemente passed away in an
airplane crash while delivering supplies to
earthquake victims in Nicaragua.
No. While he is a deceased
individual that has been
deceased for at least 5 years
(1934-1972) and a
humanitarian, he did not have
a direct impact on San José.
Clemente did not live in San
José. He was born in Puerto
Rico and spent his entire
baseball career with the
Pittsburg Pirates in
Pennsylvania.
Source 1: Britannica
Biography
Source 2: Baseball Hall of
Fame
Source 3: Biography - Story
11 .
Stanley Rudd
Park*
(Rudd Park)
(One individual submitted two suggestions
representing the Rudd family.) Deceased
Individual. “Stanley Rudd owned prune
orchards along with his family Brother
William and Sister Mr and Mrs Charlie
Johnson. My family picked prunes with
many other families in the area from the
1950’s through the 1960’s.” “Mr. Rudd
passed away several years ago. He owned
many acres in the area.”
No, because not enough
information could be found on
Stanley Rudd’s life and his
contributions to the City. While
he was an individual that has
been deceased for at least 5
years (1915-1993) and
appears to have lived and
farmed near the park site
according to the survey
respondent, no source
documents could be found to
verify any information on him,
other than vital stats and
9 obituaries of two related family
members. It is not clear what
contributions Mr. Rudd made
to the City.
Staff reached out to the survey
respondent for additional
information and potential
sources on Stanley Rudd but
did not receive a response.
Source 1: Vital Stats
Source 2: Wife, Emily’s Obituary
Source 3: Son, Robert’s Obituary
12 .
S&S Junction
Park
A geographic location near the park site.
Geography serenade and senter rd
junction.
No, because the name does
not align with the applicable
criteria. While the respondent
suggested a geographic
connection, this might not be
apparent from the name.
13 .
Senter of
Serenity
A geographic location near the park site.
Beautiful, serene location
Yes, because it denotes the
geographic location of the
park.
14 .
Senter Serenade
Park
A geographic location near the park site.
Combines the names of both nearby
streets.
Yes, because it denotes the
geographic location of the
park.
15 .
Serenade Oaks
Park
A geographic location near the park site
and a prominent geographic feature or
local reference point near the park site.
Combines the name of the street nearby for
a reference point and the oaks planted in
the landscaping.
Yes, because it denotes the
geographic location of the
park.
It should be noted that 7
existing parks have the word
“oak” in their names.
16 .
The Turnabout
Triangle Park
A prominent geographic feature or local
reference point near the park site. This
park represents and reclaimed property
and a turn around of that property.
No, because the name does
not align with the applicable
criteria.
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10 7. Name Options for the Ranked Choice Voting Survey (Survey #2) Survey #2 name options are a combination of the top ranked staff name suggestion from Survey #1 (“Serenade Park”) and eligible name suggestions received from survey #1 respondents. All the name options listed below comply with the City’s Naming Policy. Name options are listed alphabetically.
Proposed Name Reasoning
Clara Foltz Park
(name suggestion from Survey #1)
Honors Clara Shortridge Foltz (1849-1934), a suffragist and the first woman ever admitted to the bar in California. She's known for helping open up the California law practice to women i n 1878 and for helping set the stage for the establishment of a public defender.
Fujimoto Park
(name suggestion from Survey #1)
Honors Tsugio ‘Tee’ Fujimoto (1920-2015), a highly regarded San José parks gardener and parks maintenance supervisor, known among his peers for his respect, attention to detail, knowledge, and tutelage. His knowledge of plants helped to guide the expansion and refining of parks development from 1957 to 1985. Mr. Fujimoto resided less than a block from the park site.
Serenade Park
(staff name suggestion)
References the adjacent street, Serenade Way, and also honors the musical them of the adjacent neighborhood. The name also compliments the name of nearby Melody Park. The streets in the immediate neighborhood h ave musical themed names, such as Serenade Way, Concerto Drive, Rhapsody Way, Symphony Lane, and Lullaby Lane.
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1 ATTACHMENT D: SURVEY CIRCULATED BY COUNCIL DISTRICT 2 IN MAY 2023
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