HomeMy WebLinkAboutPRC 06-04-2026 MinutesMINUTES
CUPERTINO PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Thursday, June 4, 2026
At 7:01 p.m. Chair Gopal Kumarappan called the Regular Parks and Recreation Commission
meeting to order in the Quinlan Community Center Conference Room, 10185 N. Stelling Rd., and
via teleconference.
ROLL CALL
Present: Chair Gopal Kumarappan, Vice Chair Sheela Sreekanth and Commissioners Claudio
Bono, Carol Stanek and Seema Swamy. Absent: None.
CEREMONIAL ITEMS AND PRESENTATIONS
MOTION: Kumarappan moved and Sreekanth seconded to reorder the agenda to hear
Item No. 2 after Item No. 4. The motion carried with the following vote: Ayes:
Kumarappan, Sreekanth, Bono, Stanek, Swamy. Noes: None. Absent: None. Abstain:
None.
1.Subject: Grassroots Ecology
Recommended Action: Receive a presentation on Grassroots Ecology.
Written Communications for the item included a presentation.
Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Carolyn McDowell introduced Co-Executive
Director Alex Von Feldt and Project Manager Stephanie Saffori from Grassroots Ecology
who gave a presentation.
Commissioners asked questions, which the presenters responded to.
Chair Kumarappan opened the public comment period and, seeing no one, closed the
public comment period.
Commissioners received the presentation.
2.Subject: Parks and Recreation Department Marketing and Communications
Recommended Action: Receive a presentation on Parks and Recreation Department
Parks and Recreation Commission June 4, 2026
marketing and communications.
Written Communications for the item included a staff presentation.
Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Carolyn McDowell introduced
Communications and Marketing Coordinator Branton Curt, who gave a presentation.
Commissioners asked questions which staff responded to.
Chair Kumarappan opened the public comment period and, seeing no one, closed the
public comment period.
Commissioners received the presentation.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
3. Subject: May 7, 2026 Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes
Recommended Action: Review and approve the May 7, 2026 Parks and Recreation
Commission meeting minutes.
MOTION: Bono moved and Swamy seconded to approve the May 7, 2026 Parks and
Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes. The motion carried with the following vote:
Ayes: Kumarappan, Bono, Stanek, Swamy. Noes: None. Absent: None. Abstain: Sreekanth.
Chair Kumarappan opened the public comment period and, seeing no one, closed the
public comment period.
POSTPONEMENTS – None
ORAL COMMUNICATIONS
Deena Horeff discussed pickleball.
Marshall discussed pickleball.
Minna Xu discussed Lawrence Mitty Park.
Aref discussed pickleball.
OLD BUSINESS – None
Parks and Recreation Commission June 4, 2026
NEW BUSINESS
4. Subject: Santa Clara County Library District StoryWalk Initiative - Park
Recommendation
Recommended Action: Receive a presentation from the Santa Clara County Library
District and rank the three potential park locations for installation of the StoryWalk
Initiative for recommendation to City Council.
Written Communications for the item included a presentation.
Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Carolyn McDowell and Recreation Manager
Molly James introduced the item.
Director of County Library Communication and Marketing Dianne Roche,
Supervising Librarian of Adult and Teen Services Karen Dixon, and members of the
Cupertino Library Commission: Vice Chair Chandra Sakthivel and Commissioner Qin Pan
gave a presentation.
Commissioners asked questions which staff and the presenters responded to.
Chair Kumarappan opened the public comment period and the following people spoke:
• Minna Xu (speaking as a member of the public).
Chair Kumarappan closed the public comment period.
The following factors were cited by Commissioners in support of selecting Wilson Park for
the installation of the StoryWalk Initiative:
• Wilson Park has a higher concentration of young families and school-aged
children and is widely regarded as having one of the largest populations of young
residents in the area.
• Trail traffic was identified as an important consideration, with emphasis on
serving areas that have the greatest number of young children and families.
• A bridge connecting the walking trail to Wilson Park enhances accessibility and
may attract additional visitors, increasing overall park usage.
• Wilson Park was viewed as an attractive location due to its connection to the
regional trail network and the resulting pedestrian activity.
• Commissioners discussed the opportunity to introduce a new amenity to a park
that currently has fewer recreational facilities, thereby expanding opportunities
for the community.
Parks and Recreation Commission June 4, 2026
• Commissioners noted that Jollyman Park has already benefited from significant
recent upgrades. Locating the amenity at Wilson Park would help distribute park
investments more equitably across the community while providing distinct
recreational opportunities at each park, allowing both parks to develop unique
identities and serve different user groups.
Commissioners noted the following concerns regarding Wilson Park for the installation of
the StoryWalk Initiative:
• Unlike Jollyman Park, Wilson Park does not currently offer the same range of
amenities and family-oriented features, including inclusive recreational
opportunities.
• Limited parking availability at Wilson was identified as a potential constraint and
consideration for future improvements.
The following factors were cited by Commissioners in support of selecting Jollyman Park
for the installation of the StoryWalk Initiative:
• Jollyman Park was recognized as a well-established family-oriented park, with
inclusive amenities, basketball facilities, and a well-equipped play structure that
attract young families.
• Jollyman Park offers ample parking.
• Jollyman Park was identified as a key destination for young families, and its
amenities align with the City's commitment to providing inclusive recreational
opportunities.
• Commissioners noted that Jollyman Park is easily accessible and serves residents
from across Cupertino, making it a widely used community park.
• Commissioners noted that this project presents an opportunity to further advance
and build upon the City's commitment to inclusivity.
• Commissioners who attended the park's reopening following the upgrades
observed that many children, families, and adults visit Jollyman Park, including
visitors from outside the immediate neighborhood.
• Jollyman Park was noted for its inclusive playground, recent upgrades, and
frequent community events, all of which contribute to its popularity among
Cupertino residents.
• The proposed amenity was discussed as an opportunity to provide additional
recreational and social opportunities for neurodivergent individuals and their
families.
Commissioners noted the following concerns regarding Jollyman Park for the installation
of the StoryWalk Initiative:
Parks and Recreation Commission June 4, 2026
• Commissioners emphasized the importance of considering amenities and
opportunities that serve a broader range of community members and user
groups.
• It was noted that concentrating too many amenities in a single park may limit
access elsewhere; distributing facilities across multiple parks could promote more
equitable access and encourage use of parks throughout the city.
• Jollyman Park was also described as a relatively small park, which may limit its
capacity to accommodate additional amenities.
• Commissioners noted that Jollyman is primarily surrounded by senior housing
and established family neighborhoods, which may result in lower levels of use by
young children compared to other areas.
The following factors were cited by Commissioners in support of selecting Varian Park for
the installation of the StoryWalk Initiative: None Listed.
Commissioners noted the following concerns regarding Varian Park for the installation of
the StoryWalk Initiative:
• Noise from the tennis courts may impede concentration on the StoryWalk
displays.
• It is situated on the edge of the city, has more limited accessibility, and presents
additional challenges compared to the other park options.
MOTION: Bono moved and Swamy seconded to rank the three potential park locations for
installation of the StoryWalk Initiative for recommendation to City Council with Wilson
Park as number one, Jollyman Park as number two, and Varian Park as number three (The
Commission did not vote on this motion).
SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Stanek moved to recommend to City Council that the
Commission had the most support for Wilson Park, some support for Jollyman Park, and
did not support Varian Park. (There was no second, and the motion was not considered.)
SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Bono moved and Swamy seconded to provide Wilson Park as
number one, Jollyman Park as number two, and Varian Park as number three, with
feedback as to why they came to that decision. The motion carried with the following vote:
Ayes: Kumarappan, Sreekanth, Bono, Stanek, Swamy. Noes: None. Absent: None. Abstain:
None.
Chair Kumarappan recessed the meeting at 8:58 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 9:05 p.m. with
all Commissioners present.
Parks and Recreation Commission June 4, 2026
STAFF AND COMMISSION REPORTS –
Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation Carolyn McDowell reported on recent revisions to the
Commissioner's Handbook, upcoming Parks and Recreation programs and events, that City
facilities would observe Juneteenth, and the Commission's next meeting would be held on August
6 due to the July meeting cancellation.
At 9:30 p.m., Chair Kumarappan left the meeting.
Commissioner Swamy reported on local parks, particularly Jollyman Park, and noted their beauty
and that the community was benefitting.
5.Subject: Upcoming Draft Agenda Items
A tentative Parks and Recreation Commission meeting agenda calendar was provided in
the published agenda.
FUTURE AGENDA SETTING – None.
ADJOURNMENT
At 9:34 p.m. Vice Chair Sreekanth adjourned the Regular Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting.
Minutes prepared by:
Lindsay Nelson, Administrative Assistant