Neighborhood Services and Education Committee (nse)
December 11, 2025

Amanda Rodriguez, Public Information Manager
Parks & Recreation Master
Plan + Community Impact
Report
Neighborhood Services & Education Committee
December 11, 2025
Master
Plan
Update
Community
Impact
Report
Ballot
Measure
Update
Summary & Outcomes
2 Parks Make Life
Better!
Well-maintained parks support:
• Mental and physical health
• Property values
• Safer neighborhoods
• Better quality of life
3 We have a lot of parks!
4 5
Existing Funding Sources
6 Stable, Dedicated
Funding is Needed for
Park Maintenance
• Current reliance on the General Fund is
vulnerable to economic cycles
• Cuts are difficult to reverse
• Without new funding, deferred maintenance
backlog gets worse
7 Less People Taking Care of More Parks
8 How Does San José Compare?
9 Parks Revenue Measure Update
September 2025 voter survey highlights:
72%
support
prioritizing areas
most in need
54%
support
conceptual
$0.02 / sq ft
parcel tax*
75%
believe there
is need for
more $
Education & engagement campaign launched in October 2025 *Parcel tax requires 66.6% support; outreach will focus on the 21% “swing” voters 10 Funding Options Being Explored (2026)
Only $5-$10 / month $0.32 added to a 16 oz. drink
11 THESE ARE ESTIMATES
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12 GOAL: More effective park
maintenance
• Address litter, graffiti, vandalism,
and illegal dumping faster.
• Keep restrooms open and clean.
• Remove weeds to reduce the risk of
wildfire.
13 Continued public education
Gathering community feedback on spending
scenarios
YOU’RE INVITED: January 31, 2026
Neighborhood Forum
Additional polling
Council action expected during 2026-
2027 Budget Process (May-June 2026)
Revenue
Measure
Next Steps
14 Why San José Needs a
Modern Parks &
Recreation Master Plan
• Outdated Greenprint (last updated in 2009)
• Industry standard; data- and communityinformed
• Coordinated capital + operations +
maintenance strategy
• Legal basis to change how future park fees
are distributed
15 Some communities benefit from new amenities &
upgrades via Park Fees
Others face aging infrastructure &/or limited
opportunities (no development)
Master Plan will:
• Align funding with community needs
• Advance ActivateSJ principles
• Ensure all residents have access to highquality parks & recreation Change is Needed
16 Two-year process
NOW: Working on the scope of work
Early 2026: Technical work begins
Fall 2026: Community engagement begins
2028: Final document approved by Council
Master Plan
Next Steps
17 Community Impact Report: Budget & Cost Recovery
Council Policy 1-21, Pricing and Revenue Policy
Now also serves as the Annual ActivateSJ Status Report
Total: $184,717,738
18 ActivateSJ: Measuring Our Impact
19 20
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@sjparksandrec