Bay Area Older Adults Trailblazers Program

The Authority contributed funds toward the City of Morgan Hill's expansion and relocation of the Morgan Hill Community Garden to a new site. The Garden outgrew its past temporary location and the site is programmed for redevelopment in the near future. This new permanent location enabled the Garden group to expand its services and make permanent improvements to the site that will serve the community for decades to come. In addition to doubling the number of garden plots, the new location includes a restroom, new native habitat, and enhanced accessibility for members with limited mobility.

Veggielution’s Field to Farm Stand project builds on the momentum of an 18-month land use planning process for the six-acre community farm, completed in September 2019 with support from Open Space Authority. This project takes the ideas surfaced in the land use plan to the next stage, in the form of a comprehensive site design. With a site design in place, Veggielution will be positioned to invest in final construction documents and the build out of a new produce packing station, which will be more centrally located, enabling the organization to more efficiently and safely expand their farm box distribution to 500 boxes or more per week. The site plan and capital improvements will allow Veggielution to expand their urban farm more intentionally, to better support public health and local agriculture on behalf of the beautiful but underserved East San José community and the County of Santa Clara overall.

Growing Sustainably aims to increase urban food system awareness and engagement, reduce access barriers to natural spaces, and raise environmental literacy in low-income, Central San Jose communities. Led by CommUniverCity, and with funds from the Open Space Authority, 1,850 residents (1,400 students and 112 families) will learn about urban agriculture and environmental science through hands-on lessons, field trips, and family education kits. They will garden at schools and home, visit an urban farm, and experience San José 's Kelley Park.