City of Morgan Hill Bikeways, Trails, Parks and Recreation Master Plan

Chapter 4: Policies, Actions and Projects

PARKS Morgan Hill is committed to providing an integrated and diverse park system by balancing development and investment in different types of parks and open spaces. The planned park system is designed to best meet needs and preferences expressed by community members through the master planning process. The following Park Classifications table describes the types of existing and recommended parks and open spaces. The classification system was updated and customized to best reflect the current use of Morgan Hill’s parks as well as the priority for future investment and development.

Table 4-1: New Park and Open Space Classifications

Park Classification

Typical Size

Service Area

Description

Mini Parks provide open space to residential neighborhoods. Due to the limited size and high maintenance costs for limited recreational value, Mini Parks are not recommended for residential neighborhood parks in the future. Mini parks can also be small parks with specific functions such as community gardens or social gathering spaces. This type of Mini Park is appropriate for Downtown or other dense mixed-use areas. A Neighborhood Park is intended primarily for the enjoyment of nearby neighbors within a short walk or bike ride. These parks often include limited recreation amenities—such as playgrounds, sport courts, and open turf play areas. They serve as social gathering spaces and may also include natural areas. Small Community Parks serve the needs of the entire City and are destinations for residents from across the City as well as adjacent neighborhoods. They provide more amenities than neighborhood parks and allow group activities.

Immediate neighborhood (up to quarter-mile walk)

1 acre or smaller

Mini Parks

Walking distance (half-mile walk)

Neighborhood Park

1-3 acres

Small Community Park

3-10 acres

Citywide

4-2 | Bikeways, Trails, Parks and Recreation Master Plan