Alviso Adobe Park Moves Forward

A power point presentation on the park will be shown at a city council meeting in August.

A new park with historic buildings nestled in the foothills is taking shape. The Alviso Adobe Park renovation project was considered by the Milpitas City Council Tuesday. Plans and specs plus authorization for advertising bids were approved by Mayor Jose Esteves and Councilmembers Debbie Giordano and Armando Gomez.

The public will be able to enter the park located off Calaveras and Piedmont Roads through Alviso Adobe Court according to Steve Erickson, manager of the city's capital improvement projects. The objective is to create a public park replicating an 1850's style Mexican Rancho through the early 1900's rural Santa Clara County orchard and farmhouse. The engineer's estimate is $2.5 million.

The Alviso Adobe is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the only building remaining of its kind in Santa Clara valley with the Monterey-style colonial architecture.

Erickson said the Alviso Adobe building exterior has already been renovated. The $1 million for interior building improvements are not funded at this time.

 Features of the park include:

• Group picnic area with BBQ

• Adobe paving

• Historic farm implement displays with interpretive signs

• Herb garden

• California Sycamore trees

• Relocated cutting shed

Erickson said work could take about 10 months and completion is expected by late fall 2012. 

The city will spend up to $20,000 to commission a piece of public art for the park. The finalist will be selected in August 2011. The artwork will be installed in 2012. Public art in Milpitas is funded by a 10 percent tax paid by hotel guests, not residents.

Councilmember Althea Polanski and Vice Mayor Pete McHugh were not present at the June 21 city council meeting.