The Stevens Creek Corridor Park project is on target for a July 4 grand opening, according to Ralph Qualls, Cupertino director of public works.
Qualls presented an update on the first phase of the long-awaited project, including pictures, at a recent parks and recreation commission meeting.
The current project has two components. Phase 1-A concentrates on the realignment of Stevens Creek, while phase 1-B focuses more on improvements to buildings that have fallen into disrepair or have major building code and safety issues “They’re both different kinds of construction. You don’t want to bid those as one single item,” said Qualls. “It would be like bidding a freeway interchange and a library.”
Phase 1-A of the project includes significant restoration work in the creek channel and a realignment of a portion of the creek within Blackberry Farm.
Native fish had to be removed from the creek before the restoration work could proceed. Biologists and fish experts physically removed 4,642 fish and put them in holding tanks while the creek diversion continued. Particular care was taken with the threatened Central California Coast steelhead species.
“I’m happy to say that of the almost 5,000 fish we removed, almost 98 percent of them survived and were reintroduced in the stream. They are now occupying the stream in a healthy way,” Qualls said.
At the meeting, Qualls also showed off a new golf maintenance facility and the construction of restrooms at the Blackberry Farm Golf Course.
Qualls said a new bridge has been installed across the creek, replacing on old one that was “very rickety.”
Qualls said that there was an effort to make the banks along the creek look mature, lush and less like a canal. Some mature trees were relocated using heavy machinery, and 31 new large trees, all native to Northern California, have been planted along the realigned creek. Qualls said 10 more will be added before the project is completed.
“We wanted to make it look like a creek on opening day,” he added.
Phase 1-B involved creating new picnic facilities for an 800-person facility near the westside picnic area. An 8-foot-wide concrete trail was added. The 2,900-foot-long multi-use trail starts in Blackberry Farm and runs upstream through the 4-H facilities, McClellan Ranch and McClellan Road. This path opens all 38 acres of the park to public. The trail has a split fence in some parts to protect some planting and habitat on the trail between Blackberry Farm and McClellan Ranch.
A new entry kiosk also has been constructed. New fencing is around the pool area, and a new bus stop was added on McClellan near the western part of Stevens Creek Boulevard for improved drop-offs.
“We’ve never had that before, and it’s been awkward to bring buses and unload them. This is much safer and much better,” Qualls said.
The corridor land was purchased in pieces for $30 million beginning in 1970s and continuing until 1996.
“This is a very exciting project in Cupertino. This is one of those once-in-a-lifetime projects,” said commissioner David Greenstein.
Commission chair David Lee added, “This is a major investment by the city of Cupertino. It’s amazing to see how much progress we have made. And I can’t wait for July 4.”
Qualls also announced that another major public works project, the Mary Avenue bicycle and pedestrian bridge, will have an official ribbon-cutting celebration on April 30 at 3 p.m.
For documents and updates regarding these projects, go to www.cupertino.org.
