Published in the January 3 -16, 2018 issue of Morgan Hill Life
Children play on a slide at the new Railroad Park in downtown Morgan Hill. Photo by Marty Cheek
Downtown Morgan Hill received an early Christmas present. The community came together early December to open three beautiful new parks.
Hundreds of people first met at the Creek Park behind Ladera Grill where they got a first look at the nature-focused park which included the Rotary Peace Bridge spanning the creek and a cute life-sized fox statue by local artist Evelyn Davis.
Following that, the crowd climbed to the top of the Nob Hill Trail to discover a fitness-focused park with panoramic views of the South Valley region. The big thrill on the hill are the two slides that provide kids young and old with a rocking-ride.
The Railroad Park located at the corner of Depot and Third streets was the climax of the Dec. 2 ribbon-cuttings. Behind the safety fence are unique train-themed playground equipment. San Jose-based artist Pam Mossing proudly showed off her mural art work on the sound wall and the high-tech restroom at the park.
“The inspiration for the mural came from the train play structure shaped like a locomotive,” she told the crowd. “I used an old-fashioned train motif with the cow catcher and the caboose on the other end of the park at the end of the tunnel.”
The restroom started out as a gray box and Mossing turned it into a structure that resembles a train station dating back to the late 1800s or early 1900s. She used the same colors they used in the stick-style architecture from that period, with the gold walls and the brown trim. And she incorporated playful animals dressed in vintage train employee attire to make it more whimsical and engaging. These animals on the mural are also animals found in the region including deer, barn owls, a raccoon ticket taker, an eagle a bobcat, and a mountain lion.
The American Association of University Women, Morgan Hill branch, provided the funds in the Railroad Park for a small garden honoring Elena Moreno, a lifelong resident of Morgan Hill who died in 2016.
“My mother taught school for 27 years,” said her daughter, Candy Cunha. “She loved children. She loved flowers. This is the perfect memorial for her. I have the feeling she’ll be on yard duty — eternal yard duty — watching young kids.”
Mayor Tate told the crowd: “This is so much fun opening new things, I can do it all day … Thank you to everyone who gets involved and makes our city better.”
We agree, Mr. Mayor. Teaming together, we can make our wonderful downtown an even more fun place for friends and family to enjoy.
Brittney Sherman is the vice president of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association board of directors.
