Community Corner

Council Accepts Gift Of $350,000 Renovation At Christmas Hill Park

The work would revamp the park's amphitheater in time for the Gilroy Garlic Festival.

Visitors to the Gilroy Garlic Festival can expect a little shade—and then some—after the Gilroy City Council accepted the gift of a renovation at worth $350,000 on Monday.

The work, offered by the Gilroy Garlic Festival Association and Christopher Ranch's Don and Bill Christopher, would revamp the park’s amphitheater with shade, upgraded seating and an irrigation system.

“This has been waiting to be done for several years now, and now we have the money to do so,” said Rick Smelser, city public works director.

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Budget constraints forced the city to put off the renovations in the past, and Smelser said staff would prioritize the project to help ensure its completion before the Garlic Festival in July.

The festival's executive director, Brian Bowe, and president, Kurt Svardal, presented the donation to the council during its regular meeting, with Mayor Al Pinheiro offering his thanks after joking about the easily approved vote.

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“Gilroy is known throughout the world because of your efforts and your organization,” said Pinheiro.

In a letter to the council, Bowe said he hoped for construction to begin this month and for work to be completed in June, giving a few weeks for new sod to grow.


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