Project involved raising $16,000 in funds and in-kind donations

Some of the Leadership Morgan Hill class of 2024 gather around the still unnamed turtle that is part of the class project. Photo by Calvin Nuttall

By Calvin Nuttall

When the Leadership Morgan Hill Class of 2024 began to consider what their community-benefit project might be, they found themselves at a loss not for a lack of ideas, but for an overabundance. After significant deliberation, they managed to settle on the creation of a small “park” on the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center plaza.

The project will be open to the public at a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday, Sept. 7. The class picked a project both impactful and realistically achievable, said Jana Diakova, a class member.

“Our class project, the picnic area extension, is set to be a game-changer for our community,” she said. “It’s more than just beautification. With trees, picnic tables, and a charming turtle sculpture, it will become a welcoming oasis for families and friends. The nearby preschool is excited to use it, and the summer music series will benefit from the enhanced surroundings.”

Leadership Morgan Hill is a nonprofit providing a series of courses to educate its students on the local issues and institutions that underpin Morgan Hill life, thus empowering them to better serve the community. Anyone 18 or older can sign up to join Leadership, and its members range in a stunningly diverse group of motivated individuals with community service in their hearts.

A main part of the nine-month course is a community-benefit project planned and executed by the students without assistance from their instructors. This activity prepares them to work as a team and deal together with the obstacles they will face.

“Honestly, I was amazed by how well our team, with such diverse backgrounds, came together,” Diakova said. “We really hit the ground running, leveraging our collective expertise to make things happen. They were incredibly passionate about making a positive impact on Morgan Hill, and their dedication was beyond inspiring.”

In order to transform the empty area beside the Splash Pad into something usable as a recreational space, the group envisioned a set of ADA-accessible cement tables for seating, newly planted trees for shade, and public art including a commemorative plaque and statue.

Class member Carol Ferri wanted a project that could be used by the community as well as improve the environment.

“I feel that our project meets both goals,” she said. “The tables are already being used by Morgan Hill families. Planting two additional trees certainly helps our environment. The turtle sculpture adds an artistic and whimsical feel to the downtown Splash Pad Picnic Area.”

To make this vision a reality, the group needed to raise funds. They wasted no time in mobilizing, using their free time to do the groundwork necessary to make the park a reality. They canvassed for donations and tabled at events such as the Mushroom Festival and Morgan Hill Farmers’ Market to drum up support for their project.

“Balancing the program’s demands with my full-time job and family was a bit tricky,” Diakova said. “It’s a nine-month commitment, so time management and prioritization were key. Luckily, we were given the program schedule upfront, so I was able to align it with my other activities and plan accordingly.”

Local companies also pitched in, such as Devil Mountain Wholesale Nursery, which donated the two Sycamore shade trees, and local hardscape company Pavers by Design, which provided much of the installation work. Between cash and in-kind donations, the group raised more than $16,000.

“I am so pleased to be involved,” said Bob Traina, class member and owner of Pavers by Design. “And very proud that my company was able to donate the installation. I believe our class project is a very thoughtful and terrific fit with the city’s plans, and a useful addition for our community to enjoy the Splash pad area and music in the park.”

As with any Leadership Morgan Hill project, this endeavor was not without its obstacles, said project lead Scott Geffre. The size of the class created some friction because of the sheer number of ideas and voices involved.

“Working with a large group of people can be challenging to organize,” he said. “Balancing differing individual opinions and ideas with delivering on a set timeline required some effort. But the class was very flexible when it came to compromise. Volunteer initiatives can sometimes take a lower priority compared to people’s primary job assignments, and home life.”

The star of the new park is the yet-to-be-named large steel turtle statue presiding over the seating area.

“Turtle or Frog? That was the question of the century,” Diakova said. “We ended up with this cute sculpture of a turtle, and are absolutely happy about it — but the struggle was real!”

The name of the turtle will be decided by the students of the CCC’s Recreation Preschool, which returns to session Sept. 3. Tentative names include “Morgan” and “Morgana,” after Morgan Hill, but the final decision rests in the hands of the preschoolers.

“I’m very pleased with how the project turned out,” Geffre said. “The site, while already beautiful, has been enhanced both visually and functionally. I’m proud to have been able to deliver something people will really benefit from.”

Calvin Nuttall is a Morgan Hill-based freelance reporter and columnist. He is a member of the Leadership Morgan Hill Class of 2024.