gmhTODAY 13 gmhToday March April 2017 | Page 49

Depot Park There’s a lot of excitement around the redevelopment of the Hale Lumber site into a modern half-acre downtown park along Depot between 3rd and 4th Streets in Morgan Hill. Given its proximity to the railroad, Depot Park will have a train theme. A wall, adorned with a mural, will protect the park from the train tracks. The playground will feature rubberized surfacing and play equipment will carry through the train theme. Jonty’s Restaurant will remain in place as part of the park. Planned park features will include a Dalben tower, a boardwalk, sensory play equipment, an interactive art fence, and even a giant wood xylophone. Equipment was selected for quality and safety as well as suitability for family or intergenerational use. Practicality inspired the inclusion of shade trees, shade structures, WiFi, a water bottle filling station, bike parking and more. “Hill Top” Trail This multi-use hillside trail will appeal in different ways to different people including hikers, runners and kids of all ages. Those who scale the hill will enjoy stellar views of Morgan Hill and its surrounds. The park’s calling card will be a unique system of two eastward-facing, custom-built slides with asso- ciated access stairs with handrails. The access trail and slides will be bordered by privacy fencing and screen plantings. The Hill Top Trail will also feature eight ‘par course’ fitness stations (we’re talking pull-ups, crunches, push-ups, leg lifts and the like), accessible by walkways and stairs; as well as picnic tables and benches. Bike racks, a water fountain and water bottle filling station will be located at the base of the trail. Signage and historical information will enhance visitors’ experience of the trail. Hill Top will connect 3rd and 5th Streets at Del Monte Avenue, eventually linking the northern end of the West Little Llagas Creek Trail to the downtown. An alternate sidewalk trail will connect to the downtown, creating a three-quarter mile loop.  Morgan Hill Community Garden Morgan Hill has more than its fair share of folks with green thumbs, and not all of them have their own space to plant a garden. For many years, the Morgan Hill Community Garden has been at full occupancy, with a waiting list. Even so, the garden will soon be moving south from its current Butterfield Avenue location (between East Main and Diana) to a larger, permanent space adjacent to the Butterfield overpass. The existing property was originally designated for a fire station. The City of Morgan Hill will build out the infrastructure, and the Morgan Hill Community Garden volunteers will take it from there. The Open Space Authority has provided $250,000 in grant funds for the project, which Chris Ghione, Director of Community Services, said will be undertaken in 2017. Connect with Community Garden online at mhcommunitygarden.org or facebook.com/morganhillcommunitygarden. The City is also looking at options to put in a smaller community garden in downtown Morgan Hill. Learn more about these and other Parks & Trails projects at morgan-hill.ca.gov/144/Stay-Active. GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN MARCH/APRIL 2017 gmhtoday.com 49