Left: Book Smart owners Brad
Jones and Cindy Meister in front
of book exchange cubby and
mural painted by Lina Velasquez.
Above: “Bunches of Grapes”
basket, Peter Hazel
O
n May 22, 2015 the City of Morgan Hill and the
Morgan Hill Downtown Association hosted an unusual
event. It was the opening of a temporary, “Pop Up
Park.” The park will probably only last until the end of summer
and/or when the next phase of downtown construction does it in.
The park is located at the corner of Third and Monterey.
It sits on property belonging to the Transition Authority of the
former RDA. On the old parking lot of the former liquor store
sits a unique adventure. It is part whimsical, part practical,
part fun with an oversized Adirondack chair, a bike fix-it
and hydration station, murals, padded artificial grass, loaned
trees, furniture made out of propane tanks, chalk board walls,
sculptures, kid’s corner and more.
The pop up park brings a little levity to the otherwise
drudgery of downtown construction. It is the result of some
creative funding and exceptional public/private partnerships.
Left: Juan Carlos Araujo of
Empire 7 Studios, company
commissioned to complete
bike mural.
Above:
Artist Mesngr Faith who,
with his daughter, Crystal,
painted the bike riding
mural.
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
JULY/ AUGUST 2015
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