Authors: Katherine Cushing, Executive Director; Nicole Guzman, Project Coordinator
Through our new partnership with the Delmas Park Neighborhood Association (DPNA), CommUniverCity connected SJSU Graduate Urban Planning students studying tactical urbanism with community organizations and residents. The term tactical urbanism refers to the use of inexpensive, short-term actions–think flash mobs and temporary parks–that can build social connections and inspire permanent positive neighborhood change. Together, students and resident leaders reached out to all inhabitants of the 400-home boutique community to identify public priorities and build community.
Throughout the spring semester, SJSU Graduate Urban planning students dedicated hundreds of hours developing proposals to improve residential quality of life in the community, ranging from creating safer intersections to encouraging people to nearby parks and businesses. To showcase the work and bring neighbors together, CommUniverCity hosted a pop-up park on a bright Sunday morning. With the help of the San Jose Learning Center, student and resident volunteers transformed the parking lot into a festive gathering space. Approximately 30 residents and 25 SJSU students, faculty, and staff attended.
Residents appreciated the effort made to put on the event. “I’m happy someone cares enough about my neighborhood enough to put on an event like this,” said one apartment dweller. Another participant commented on how passionate the students were. As he put it, “the work presented by the students came from the heart.”
Want to Know More?
The Urban and Regional Planning graduate students will be presenting their final presentation at the Children’s Discovery Museum on May 23 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. If you are interested in attending please contact Nicole Guzman at nicole@cucsj.org. The final class project will be posted on our Community Planning Page this summer.
As part of their coursework, Urban and Regional Planning students recently completed a Community Assessment Report for Delmas Park, which lies at the center of a planned Google Village. This document lays the foundation for better understanding the neighborhoods issues, assets, and priorities.
The SJSU students worked really hard to put this event together and their effort was very obvious! They successfully created a fun space for our kids. – Sarah Springer, Delmas Park Neighborhood Association Vice President
Special Thanks
CommUniverCity thanks the management and staff at the San Jose Learning Center for hosting this event, along with the Delmas Park Neighborhood Association, the Knight Foundation, iJava, Mudai Ethiopian Restaurant, Local Color, San Jose Downtown Association, and the SJSU Urban and Regional Planning graduate students and SJSU student volunteers for supporting the event.