Emma Prusch Farm Park promotes and demonstrates historic, contemporary, and sustainable agricultural practices through educational and enrichment opportunities with the land.

History

Native San Josean Emma Prusch, bequeathed to the City of San Jose in 1962. The 87 acres of rich agricultural land was once a working dairy farm located in the heart of the Valley of Hearts Delight at he intersection of King and Story Roads. The park consists of the remaining 47 acres from the original gift.

The deed to the City specified that the City “will make said park a place of relaxation, recreation, and enjoyment for the people of the City of San Jose, and in such a manner as will, to extent that such can be reasonably done, give to said park a rural county character and atmosphere.”

In 1982, the Foundation, consisting of community volunteers, was created to aid the City in meeting those criteria. Agricultural displays and educational events are essential to meeting that commitment.

The original Prusch family farm house, along with other historical structures are located within the park, which has one of the largest free standing wooden barns in California.

Partners

The Emma Prusch Farm Park Foundation's mission is to help keep Emma Prusch's vision of creating and maintaining a rural country tradition alive in the hearts and minds of all San José residents.

Since 1995, the Foundation has donated over $68,000 in scholarships for the Summer Camp Program promoting environmental and agricultural education. In accordance to Emma’s wishes when she deeded the land to the City of San José in 1962, the former working dairy farm stands today as a historical reminder of the rich agricultural history of the Santa Clara Valley when there were more trees and animals than freeways and sprawling tech campuses.

Emma Prusch Farm Park is also the home of Veggielution, a local non-profit organization rooted in East San José with the goal of connecting people of different backgrounds through food and farming. Veggielution hosts community engagements every 1st Saturday of the month and promotes environmental education through Eastside Grown, a volunteer training program providing social and economic opportunities for locals. Veggielution’s Eastside Explorers, a STEM-based Middle School Field Trip Program, promotes environmental stewardship while providing mentorships for individuals of color from San José’s most underserved neighborhoods.

Programs at Emma Prusch

Emma Prusch Farm Park provides a variety of programs, classes, and activities for residents of all ages. We offer 12 weeks of summer camp for kids ages 5 to 12-years-old and 8 weeks of The Hatchery Kinder Camp for children ages 3 to 5-years-old. The Hatchery Preschool (Kinder Tot and Tiny Tot) runs year-round for kids ages 3 to 4-years-old. We also offer a fun mix of instructional and educational classes like Farm Fables, Farm Science, Time for Twos & Threes at the Farm, Math Mentoring, and Reading Remedies. Scholarships are available for a variety of these programs.

When visiting Emma Prusch Farm Park, check out the historic Prusch family farmhouse, our robust demonstration gardens, rare fruit orchards, and the very popular farm-themed playground. We have acres on acres of lush green lawns perfect for free range roaming, and San José’s largest free standing barn full of livestock like cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs cared for by 4-H youth. Through the park’s interactive Small Animal Area, themed classes, and camps, children have an opportunity to experience and learn about the park’s unique collection of Farm animals.

Emma Prusch Farm Park includes heritage, high density, and rare fruit orchards, a Plant Science Center, two community gardens, pollinator and butterfly gardens, as well as acres of lush green lawns for picnics and playing. The Park also has a Friendship Forest planted with trees from around the world. The Santa Clara Home Composting Program maintains a demonstration site here as well. And the small farm animal enclosure is home to many typical farm animals including chickens, pigs, and rabbits. Chickens, Guinea hens, ducks, geese, and peafowl roam the park at will.

The Park also provides picnic spaces and two indoor halls available for reservation. Here at Emma Prusch Farm Park, Residents have celebrated anniversaries, baby showers, birthdays, family reunions, and quinceñeras with us throughout the years. By continuing to promote agricultural sustainability to the people of San José and educating residents on how to cultivate the land, Emma Prusch Farm Park maintains the rich farming history of San José for future generations to come.