New leadership may spur more growth for Guadalupe River Park

The Guadalupe River Park Conservancy has made an interesting and telling choice in selecting Jason Su to replace Leslee Hamilton, who is stepping down as executive director after 11 years. And that’s because Su’s specialty is “placemaking,” a term popular in urban planning circles that essentially means designing public spaces where people are happy to hang out.

Su has spent the past five years as the Street Life Manager for the San Jose Downtown Association, where he spearheaded dozens of projects, from pop-up dog parks and murals to MOMENT, the retail incubator that opened on the ground floor of the San Pedro Square parking garage last year. Under his watch, artists made downtown’s Fountain Alley a lot less scary and added vibrant colors to several crosswalks and intersections.

“The Knight Foundation recently recognized Jason for his role in placemaking, and placemaking is exactly the task we have ahead here at Guadalupe. I think we’re going to be in very good hands,” Mayor Sam Liccardo said last week at the conservancy’s annual Windows on the River Park fundraiser, held at Adobe’s riverside headquarters. He also praised Hamilton’s leadership during a financially challenging period that he conceded was not helped by the city’s budget policies.

Guadalupe River Park Conservancy board president Jodi Starbird highlighted Su’s understanding of the conservancy’s mission and its upcoming opportunities. “Jason stood out among candidates for his grasp of urban issues and ideas around park activation,” she said.

Ryan Sebastian, who founded the Moveable Feast food truck empire and has been behind several public space projects himself, echoed that praise. “Jason’s one of the top five people for activation in pretty much the entire city,” he said.

That’s good news for the Guadalupe River Park, the 3-mile green ribbon that snakes through downtown San Jose from Discovery Meadow to Guadalupe Gardens north near the airport. Officially opened in 2005 after decades of planning, the park already is used for big community events like the Silicon Valley Turkey Trot and the fireworks on July 4. But aside from the Rotary PlayGarden on Coleman Avenue and the nearby Heritage Rose Garden, there are few attractions for everyday users. Homeless encampments, clustered in various spots throughout the park, have created another challenge, contributing to a garbage problem and discouraging some people from using the trail system.

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Art in construction zone will move to new downtown San Jose home A conversation about adding oomph to the park is gaining steam, though, with urban advocacy group SPUR and the Knight Foundation leading the way. Ideas are being pitched from every corner, including kayak tours, zip lines and even a landmark structure. Plans are underway — and money is being raised — to expand the PlayGarden and move the long-dormant carousel at Arena Green next to it.

It’s impossible to know which plans will work in the long run, but the Guadalupe River Park Conservancy has picked a leader who knows how to navigate these waters.

FAREWELL PERFORMANCE: Symphony Silicon Valley’s amazing, season-closing performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony on Sunday afternoon was also the swan song for Janet Sims. She provided the pre-concert Music Notes lecture for the last time after several years of illuminating audiences about the program they were about to hear, with equal measures of musical knowledge, history and humor.

Sims had her last stage performance as the orchestra’s assistant principal violist in January, wrapping up a 35-year career playing with both Symphony Silicon Valley and its predecessor, the San Jose Symphony. But she agreed to continue being part of the pre-show experience for the remainder of the season.

“I have been so honored to be here, as you laughed at my stupid jokes and put up with my pitiful German and French,” Sims told the audience before Sunday’s matinee. “To get to share my excitement about the music I love in this city I call home has been a huge gift.”

Symphony President Andrew Bales says the Music Notes show will go on for the 19th season starting in October, with violinist Randall Weiss taking Sims’ place.

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