The thought of spending $139M of our tax dollars in a neighborhood housing a overwhelming percentage of illegals leaves me speachless.

I'm not racist either! It's a fact. Pick any day and walk through that park. The percentage of hispanic to non-hispanic obviously tips the scale? We know that undocumented hispanic residents in this country is an issue, and the Rengstorff/California community is no different! "Residents who spoke had varying opinions, with one woman saying through a translator" ....... Come one!! When people living and working in this country (and our community) get themselves legally documented and can SHOW that they pay their fare share of taxes, I'll stop complaining!

Please - No need to do anything to this park. It is fine the way it is.

Is there any way to demolish those apartments on the corner of Crisanto and Escuela? Definitely would provide more park space so that we could add two soccer fields like in Palo Alto.

Council member Laura Macias said Rengstorff Park is already a "gem" that many people love. "What we need to do is polish that gem," she said. Council member Tom Means added, "I don't think we schedule a lot of weddings there."

How do these two statement go together?

"In 50 years we won't be driving cars anymore," she said. "We don't actually need to be driving everywhere. We can walk to the park."

What a silly arrogant comment. I suppose she doesn't own any cars?

I have to agree with "resident in distress." Well said.

It doesn't matter how much is spent, until the surrounding area is cleaned up, removing the loitering illegals and troublesome gangs, I won't even slow the car to look at it. Spend the money to clean up this troubled area before we invest ONE PENNY on things such as a park.
I've discussed this with many parents and they all say the same thing: "I'll never take my kid there because of the surrounding area and the elements who think the park is their "turf"

Another thought, how much would it cost to install an I.C.E. substation in the park?

"In 50 years we won't be driving cars anymore," she said. "We don't actually need to be driving everywhere. We can walk to the park."

50 years ago, they thought we'd be in flying transportation like the Jetsons, and we'd have colonies on Mars.

Seems like a dubious statement to me.

And yeah, I don't stop at Rengstorff Park as it is; clean up the neighborhood first and then improve the park.

Already known as a gang hangout, and they wonder why no weddings? This City Council is really clueless. I want to know how many council members live within the immediate area?

Some of the council member's quotes in this article remind me of the saying "It's better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak up and remove all doubt"

I have spent literally thousands of hours in the park with my two-year-old daughter and my only complaint is that there are not enough swings. Anybody who thinks Rengstorff park is unsafe obviously doesn't spend much time there.

I take my two daughters to Rengstorff park all the time. It's our favorite park. There's no need to change it. They old school sliding board is a gem, and that's probably the first thing they'd replace.

I'm white, and I don't understand the other commentors who think Hispanic = illegal alien = dangerous. The families in Rengstorff are as kind as you'll find anywhere, and I've seen more gang graffiti at Mitchell park in Palo Alto, a much posher neighborhood.

"The city had hired San Jose-based Anderson Brule Architects to create several possible concepts for revamping the park"

Last year the city spent $100,000 on four cartoons of a proposed HSR station. I cannot image what they pissed away on this boondoggle.

Margaret Abe-Koga, who said that she found herself "trying to recall why we embarked on this project."

"We need to talk about how we are going to finance this," Abe-Koga said.

Every time I think Abe-Koga cannot get any dumber, ... wow.

I don't know what is worse -- that she cannot remember or that she is moving on the finance questions without any idea why she wants to spent that much money.

To all the racists who like to comment here: get lost, you're not wanted here or anywhere else. And, yes it's right next to the day worker center so you would never be caught here anyway.

Knock down the old community center and build a new one right now, in the same general footprint, as constructions costs are low. No underground parking, just repave the existing lot.

I would hold of on relocating the swim center or tennis courts and the concourse to the Senior Center. How many seniors use the park?

Also, I think we could knock down those tennis courts and use the space for other sports. How often are those courts used?

The city could raise the money by raising taxes on the city's property and business owners. Google and other corporations should also be charged a very heavy tax. What am I missing?

And I agree, every time Abe-Koga is quoted, I wince with pain. Macias is not much better. I'd like to see her to walk down California and Escuela late at night, every night for a month before telling us we don't need cars.

If they want to spend money on Rengstorff park, just fix up the public bathrooms there. Them men's room has taken a beating.

This comment has been moved from a duplicate thread, which has now been closed:

Spending all that money on this park isn't going to change where it is located or stop all the crime that goes on there at night.
by Sean Sep 16, 2011 at 10:06 am

[Post removed. Please refrain from personal attacks.]

[Post removed. Please refrain from making personal attacks.]

Take the racist fear-mongering somewhere else. It's getting tiresome. I'm a white US citizen, I visit the park often with my kids, and I have never felt threatened.

I agree with the other posters that some repairs are needed, but there is no call for major changes. The park is an verdant oasis, especially for people living in apartments. We should keep plenty of trees and open space in the park.

Joe points out that a council member has a lot of cars in front of her house and it's called a personal attack? (Kinda of like accusing Al Gore of not being all that green when he flies around in a corporate jet with a huge carbon foot print?) He then points out that the idea of an underground garage in a park located in an area known for gang activity is an invitation to trouble, and his entire post gets removed? And then I chip in and add that cars parked on the roof of the future Safeway in the San Antonio shopping center doesn't seen smart in earthquake country and my comment is deleted as well? Nice going moderator. Your shifting standards for ruling over the boards are at least consistent with your shifting standards for journalism; you do both to suit your own interests and agenda.

This is an activist editorial censor. They remove posts they disagree with. Sometimes they don't even leave a trace. This is how online newspapers in China are run. Sometimes progressives adjust their ethics a bit when it serves a purpose.

"In 50 years we won't be driving cars anymore," she said. "We don't actually need to be driving everywhere. We can walk to the park."

No, in 50 years we are going to have Prius carcasses sitting on our front lawns oozing toxins from batteries gone bad decades earlier and no place to put them because concept of NIMBY will never change. What a horribly arrogant and misguided statement. Oh well... you guys voted for her. And the other one. And the other one. I'll let you decide which.

"But Macias said closing the street would back up traffic on Escuela Avenue, especially when parents are trying to drop off or pick up their kids from Castro School. "

I don't understand how closing Cristano will affect traffic around Castro School. Castro School is on the other side of California Avenue.

The intersection of Rengstorff and Cristano is a nightmare. There shouldn't be intersections that close to a grade crossing.

I support the closing of Cristano and a new park layout that prepares for a future grade separation.

But if Cristano must be kept open, please realign it with Leland Avenue and put in a traffic signal. Mi Pueblo Market has great carne asada, but I avoid shopping there due to the crazy intersection.

Matt:

Get with the times. According to the council you should be walking to Mi Pueblo.

Ok first of all since when is a Hispanic a threat? Im Hispanic. I don't see myself as a threat. Hell I work for the city and have spent around 8 hours a day at Rengstorff and it has really changed for the better. There's always at least 1 cop patrolling the park every 15 minutes. Gang members aren't allowed here anymore. You see one you have the right to call the police and they will "escort" them out. Now about building an I.C.E. Station there... Really? Let's build one in Chinatown and see howany illegal Asians we catch! You have a choice you know? It's as easy as not going there! It's a PUBLIC park. You have your backyard for a reason! Keep out everyone you don't like. And hell MV has ALOT of parks to choose from!

Now as far as revamping the park. It's fine the way it is. Just rescuing the playgrounds and the bathrooms. Want more ppl at the community center? Advertise!

"There's always at least 1 cop patrolling the park every 15 minutes."

Me thinks you just missed your own point!

SMH at all the racist people on here. People gotta realize they live in California, so there will always be Hispanics like it or not! Don't like it move to Alaska or some sh**. I grew up coming to Rengstorff Park, the park is great - however I would definatly make a larger playground if not more - and definatly have a larger basketball courts with real size. I know us hispanics are small, but make the courts bigger lol.