Little-known historical facts: Lake Cunningham Regional Park in San Jose

Nestled in the Evergreen area of San Jose is a hidden gem. Tucked between White Road and Capitol Expressway on the east and west and Cunningham Avenue and Tully Road on the north and south is Lake Cunningham Regional Park. This park offers many types of recreation, from picnicking to learning to sailing. Did you ever wonder how this manmade lake came to our area? Or who the park was named after? I grew up in San Jose and have watched this park grow over the years, yet it wasn't until recently that I learned some interesting history of this wonderful place.

These historical facts regarding Lake Cunningham were never taught in school, yet it is excellent local history. Did you know James F. Cunningham purchased land from Mountain View all the way to the Evergreen area back in the 1880s, and the park was named for him? Did you know that the area of Lake Cunningham was a dairy back in 1969? In the warm summer months, it was an excellent grazing area for the cows, but flooded in the winter. Many were afraid flooding would wipe out the local areas and, in 1972, plans for turning it into a regional park and water detention basin began.

In 1976, the City of San Jose acquired the Pleasant Hills Drive-Through Dairy through eminent domain, and three years later, in 1979, the grading began.

In 1982 the park officially opened, but only part of it was accessible for to public.

When I was a kid, I remember my parents telling my sister and I that our Christmas tree was going to be recycled to Lake Cunningham. It sounds strange, and I even had to verify my memory with my Dad, but it was true.

Back in 1984, the lake was going under major improvements, including building a fish habitat. Around that time frame, we, as residents near Lake Cunningham Regional Park, were asked to donate our used Christmas trees to help build the fish habitat at the bottom of the lake. The trees had to be completely clean and put out on the curb for pickup. Our family worked hard to have the cleanest tree and is proud, to this day, knowing that we helped build a fish habitat.

Sources:

http://www.rayner.us/LCPRWebsite/historyx/history_body.htm
http://www.lakecunningham.org/