2 weeks Ago By Tony Ng
San Jose's Columbus Park, currently home to the city's largest homeless encampment, is set for a $24 million makeover to transform the neglected green space into an inviting recreational hotspot. Announcing the plans on social media, Mayor Matt Mahan emphasized the need to quickly stand up shelters while revitalizing common spaces like Columbus Park, which he said couldn't "languish in the interim." According to Mahan's Instagram post, the proposed renewal includes soccer fields, courts, and a new playground catering to families, kids, and seniors.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mayor Matt Mahan (@mattmahansj)Amid this overhaul, current park residents are to be moved, a decision that has garnered mixed reactions from those affected and homeless advocates alike. Residents such as Kathy Davis and Cat Daugherty, who have called the park their home for several years, are now faced with the daunting task of locating alternative living arrangements. One resident poignantly told CBS News San Francisco, "If you haven't lived this life, you don't know.
You know what I'm saying? You're looking at it from a weird perspective."The unanimous endorsement by the San Jose City Council reflects the city's intent to make significant community investments, including adult and youth soccer fields, pickleball courts, and horseshoe courts. The city aims for Columbus Park to resume as a vital youth sports hub.
However, Mayor Mahan acknowledged to ABC7 News that this progress is not without complexities, saying, "I do think this is progress. It isn't perfect, but we're doing our best to balance many different needs in our community."Shaunn Cartwright, a local homeless advocate, criticizes the city’s approach, disputing the lack of alternative housing available for those displaced.
"The city doesn't care. The city just wants to make all these unhoused people disappear in time for the World Cup and Super Bowl," Cartwright expressed to ABC7 News. The city is projected to add up to 1,400 interim housing placements over the next year.
However, Cartwright argues that the mayor's plan leaves displaced residents with fewer areas where they can exist. The park's renovation is not expected to begin until early 2026, with reopening planned for 2027..
