The City of San José continues to monitor and follow all recent County and State Orders and guidance. Read the July 24, 2020 County Order.

Phased Approach to Opening Park Amenities

The new County and State orders allow some park amenities to reopen with new protocols in place. San José closed more than 1,000 amenities that will reopen in a phased approach.

Those who choose to use opened park amenities are expected to abide by all posted signage as well as the Orders and guidance from the County Health Officer. This includes staying out of closed amenities, no sharing of recreational equipment, and only using open facilities with members of your household. Social gatherings are still prohibited.

Other amenities remain closed. Violators may be subject to fines of $100 or more. For a current list of park and facility closures, please visit bit.ly/prnscancellations. 

Parking Fees

Effective April 1, 2021, City of San José Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) will resume paid parking at regional parks and destinations, following a temporary halt in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes Almaden Lake Regional Park, Alum Rock Park (Penitencia Creek Road entrance lot, Eagle Rock and Rustic Lands lots will remain free, as they were before the pandemic), Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, Kelley Park, Japanese Friendship Garden, and Lake Cunningham Regional Park. 

The Department reminds park users to stay home if you are sick, wear face coverings if within six feet of someone who is not a member of your household, keep a six-foot distance from others always, and comply with amenity closures and stay out of restricted areas.

All city payment machines will display multi-lingual signage reminding customers to wear a mask and maintain a safe distance from others while paying. Employees will follow safe cash handling procedures as well as routine machine cleaning.

Parking fees are $6 per day, and subject to change as normal operations resume. Discount cards and hangtags issued from April 2019 through March 2020 will be honored to receive a full year of value. When the Leininger Community Center reopens, the Department will begin issuing new hangtags and discount cards.

Annual Regional Parking Pass expiration has been extended by a year of their expiration date. 

Discounted Cards are extended until January 31, 2022.

Renewals, New Annual Parking and New Discounted Parking purchases are on hold. Guest must purchase daily rate once passes expire. Exchanging of Parking Passes are on hold until further notice. Guests can hold on to Daily Rate Tag to put towards purchase or renewal.

Picnic Areas

Guidelines for picnic table use – The City of San José Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services reminds residents that Group Picnic Areas are currently closed and to use small picnic areas in parks safely. Those who choose to use picnic areas must follow all posted signage as well as County Public Health Orders. This includes limiting up to three households (25 people or less), wearing a face covering when not eating (ages 2 and up), staying 6 feet from anyone outside your household, washing or sanitizing hands frequently, and limit usage to two hours or less.

Due to the temporary closure of Leininger Community Center, reservations are not currently offered, and picnic areas are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Alum Rock Park

Alum Rock Park will be open on Restricted Use Status on Sunday, June 20, 2021. Restricted use allows park visitation but no open flames, fires or BBQ’s permitted. Visitors are reminded to follow all park rules, and to adhere to Santa Clara County health protocols.

Playgrounds

Following updates from the County and State, the City's 296 playgrounds will begin to reopen starting Thursday, December 10. Those who choose to use the newly opened amenities must follow all posted signage as well as County Public Health Orders. Guidelines for use include washing or sanitizing your hands before and after using playground/exercise equipment; wearing face coverings at all times; keeping a six-foot distance from those outside of your household; staying home if anyone in the household is ill; not sharing personal items or toys; and sanitizing equipment before and after use with EPA approved disinfectants as the equipment is not sanitized. Parents and caretakers are responsible for ensuring that their children are playing safe and following all of the rules. Do your part to protect your family and others against COVID-19 by following these guidelines. The City of San José will continue to monitor our parks and facilities to ensure the safety and wellness of our community.

Barbecue (BBQ) Areas

Basketball and Volleyball Courts 

Basketball and volleyball courts will begin to reopen over the course of several weeks as park staff reinstall hoops and nets. Those who choose to use newly opened recreational amenities must follow all posted signage as well as County Health Orders. Rules include no competitive play, everyone (ages 2 and up) must wear a face covering when not exercising, stay 6 feet from anyone outside your household, and stay home if you are sick.

Communications Hill Staircase

The Communications Hill Staircase has reopened to the public. Please do your part to protect the health and safety of our community by following all posted signage and public health orders. 

Restrooms

On Monday June 15, most San José park restrooms opened. The restrooms will be cleaned according to their use. Most frequented park restrooms will be cleaned three-times a day; less frequented restrooms will be cleaned once or twice a day, commensurate with their use. A few restroom buildings remain closed to the public as they are being used by children in summer camps. For a list of closed restrooms, visit bit.ly/prnscancellations. Drinking fountains remain closed until further notice. Park visitors are encouraged to bring their own water. Those seeking to have fun and find physical and mental health at a park must follow all State and County guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including practicing physical distancing.   

Benches

San José park benches are now open. With benches in 206 parks, it will take time to open all of them for public use. Benches users must not gather with people outside their household.

Dog Parks

San Jose's 13 dog parks will open on Tuesday, June 9. Residents and their four-legged friends who choose to use the reopened dog parks must follow all posted signage and abide by all Santa Clara County Public Health Orders and conditions. This includes staying home if you or your pet are sick, and not entering a dog park if you can’t stay six feet away from others.

Dog park visitors must stay out of closed areas and not share recreational equipment with others. A face covering is required unless you meet the exemptions in the County Health Officer’s Critical Guidance on Face Coverings. Water fountains remain closed until further notice, please bring your own water. 

Golf Courses

The three San José golf courses reopened on May 5, 2020. The following course operators must comply with the County protocols to open and safely operate the courses:

• Los Lagos Golf Course
• Ranco de Pueblo Golf Course
• San José Municipal Golf Course

Calabazas Park BMX Track

Calabazas BMX track reopened on September 16. For the health and safety of the public, physical distancing must be maintained at all times, 6-feet between others.

Skateparks

On May 9, skateparks, except Lake Cunningham Action Sports Park (LCASP), will open. LCASP will remain closed until further notice as staff prepare plans for reopening with program modifications.

The following skateparks will reopen:

• Great Oaks Park
• Mayfair Park
• Plata Arroyo Park
• Roosevelt Park
• Stonegate Park
• West Evergreen Park  

Sport fields

Most of the 65 sport fields are now open. Sport field users must not gather with people outside their household. To prevent overuse, the sport fields at Ramac and Watson parks will remain closed. For a current list of park and facility closures, please visit bit.ly/prnscancellations.

San Jose fields are now available for summer camp, class or practice reservations! If your sports league or program is interested in offering summer camps, classes and/or practices for baseball, soccer practice or other non-contact sports activities on City of San José fields, please contact FieldReservations@sanjoseca.gov for more information.

All summer camps, classes and practices must consist of stable groups of 12 or fewer participants, and follow all appropriate social distancing protocols. The complete County summer camp guidelines can be found here.