PRNS Reduces Water Usage Across All San José Parks to Meet Drought Water Restrictions and Preserve Natural Resources
Learn About the Department’s Plan to Protect Our Environmental Resource
Post Date:09/02/2021 1:30 PM*This is a special feature from the City of San Jose, Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services
“The City's public parks are a place for residents to take care of their mental and physical health, connect with nature, and take respite,” said Jon Cicirelli, Director of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services. “We recognize that many members of our community do not have a backyard, and especially for them, our parks are essential for quality of life.”
As of July 2021, the majority of California, including the Bay Area, has reached a level of extreme drought. To align with the department’s guiding principles of nature, stewardship, and equity & access, PRNS plans to reduce water usage across all parks by 15% compared to 2019. These strategic measures meet the Santa Clara Valley Water District's mandatory drought water restrictions while allowing for the continued maintenance of our essential outdoor spaces.
By continuing to install smart irrigation controllers, PRNS staff have a high level of control of water usage across the park system. Flow meters and master valves will also be installed to detect leaks and shut off water systems when warranted to prevent water waste.
New planting and turf renovation projects will be paused until weather and rainfall allow for that to occur with less potable water required. Projects already in progress will continue.
Staff will identify and remove excess planting, which will limit the water coverage needed. As staff identifies these areas, low water options, such as native plants, picnic table sites or tree canopies, will be considered as alternatives.
The department also plans to identify and reduce turf areas that are not situated for recreation or relaxation for residents. For recreational turf areas, water usage will be evaluated and further restricted if deemed necessary to reach the department’s 15% reduction goal.
There are more than 40 parks in the City’s park system using recycled water and those locations will be evaluated to ensure efficient watering.
While implementing these water usage reduction measures, PRNS will continue to monitor the efficiency of watering practices within the parks system to ensure drought mandates are being met while parks maintain a standard of quality for residents.
The ActivateSJ Strategic Plan is the City of San José's Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services’ (PRNS) plan to maintain, improve and expand our facilities, programs and services. The plan guides how we care for and develop a diverse park system, and an abundance of recreation programs and services for all in San José. To learn more about our department’s plan and vision to move forward, visit activatesj.org Return to full list >>
