The town of Woodside is blessed with two county parks, but until this weekend, residents had no municipal park of their own.
That changed Sunday, Oct. 14, with the grand opening of the six-acre Barkley Fields and Park on Farm Hill Boulevard.
The whole town was invited, and 525 people showed up to enjoy the new park, located opposite Canada College.
“Today’s the day we unwrap the surprise,” said Mayor Sue Boynton, before cutting a ceremonial ribbon with Noel Perry, the Woodside resident whose family donated the land for the park.
The park is named for the Perry family’s deceased mastiff.
Flopped on burgundy blankets beneath blue skies, Woodsiders listened to cover band Livewire and munched hot dogs and hamburgers. Kids, many in soccer uniforms and dazzling face paint, raced around the deep green grass of the combination soccer/baseball field, and clambered all over the elaborate play structures.
Building the park on undeveloped land near Interstate 280 was a five-year odyssey. There were months of negotiations with nearby residents of the Woodhill Estates subdivision over concerns about the impact of noise and traffic generated by the park. Then there was the cost of turning a bumpy tract of open space into a landscaped park and paved parking lot.
Woodside resident Sally Hartman led a campaign that gathered donations of more than $2 million toward the park’s $4.5 million price tag. Grant money and Woodside’s general fund made up the rest. Town Engineer Kent Dewell, who’s been overseeing the project, postponed his retirement for a year in order to get the park built.
While the park is open to all, youth sports teams are the big winners. Soccer practices at Barkley began Monday, and the first game at the park is set for this Saturday, said Town Manager Susan George.
