San Jose council adopts master plan and names future Rinconada Drive park 'Bill Key Park'

The San Jose City Council unanimously approved a master plan and the official name "Bill Key Park" on April 30 for a future 1.2-acre neighborhood park at the terminus of Rinconada Drive in Council District 9.

Parks staff described the park design that pairs green-stormwater infrastructure — including a roughly 9,000-square-foot bioretention basin — with play equipment, pollinator gardens and walking trails. Mary Beth Bowman, the staff planner managing the naming process, outlined a two-stage public outreach process that used name-suggestion and ranked-choice surveys vetted under Council Policy 7-5.

"Bill Key Park would honor Bill Key, a Chinese American businessman, community organizer and leader in San Jose," Bowman said, noting family members were present in the chamber to support the recommendation.

Family members described Bill Key's civic leadership and ties to San Jose history. "My father would be proud to see that the city of San Jose and CHCP had a 30-year contractual partnership," said Jerry Key Wong, a family representative. Several councilmembers welcomed the park as an asset for a densely developed neighborhood and praised the inclusion of pollinator gardens and stormwater features.

The council voted to adopt the master plan and the recommended park name; staff said the Parks and Recreation Commission had recommended the option based on community input.