The City of San José’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) and the Office of San José Councilmember Tam Nguyen announce the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony of William Lewis Manly Park, on the cross streets of William Manly Street, Jayhawkers Place and Llano De Los Robles Avenue, located within the Communications Hill Neighborhood of south San José.

William L. Manly is best known for his heroic rescue with fellow pioneer, John Rodgers, of their party of lost settlers in the Death Valley area in the mid1800s. At least three areas in Death Valley National Park bear Manly’s name today. Manly is also known for being one of the earliest settlers in San José, having purchased 250 acres of land on Communications Hill. Manly’s family would go on to maintain an active relationship with San José and its
development for the next 150 years.

During the event, PRNS staff will also ask the public for feedback on three proposed names for the future Fitness Park at Communications Hill and Hillsdale Avenue. Current name proposals for the Fitness Park include “Pat Tillman Park”, “Schuetzen Vertikal Park,” and “Hillsdale Station Park.” Community members may also submit alternative name proposals for public consideration at the William Lewis Manly Park opening event.

The three-year-long process of constructing this park is part of one of two turnkey parks approved in the current phase of development under the Communications Hill Master Plan. The Master Plan calls for up to 2,200 residential units (single and multi-family), up to 67,500 square feet of commercial/retail space, and 1.44 million square feet of industrial usage. At full build out, the Communications Hill project is expected to include at least 27.9 acres of recreational improvements for the community, which would be provided as public parks, accessible and recreational open space, and/or trails.

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