The ongoing saga at East San Jose's Emma Prusch Farm Park has uncovered tension and allegations between the Prusch Farm Foundation and the city's Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services (PRNS) Department. The foundation, overseeing portions of the beloved community park for decades, was recently served an eviction notice by the city, sparking outcry and confusion.
Sharon McCray, the foundation's president, claims the dispute began after they questioned the allocation of funds from a gas station lease intended for the park's maintenance, which amounts to about $130,000 annually. In a statement to San José Spotlight, McCray raised concerns that the city had been using substantial portions of the Emma Prusch Memorial Park Improvement Fund on consulting and retirement benefits rather than direct maintenance and improvement of the park. At the same time, the Parks Department insists all funds are accounted for, and their spending can be tracked through the city's budget documents, as per Amanda Rodriguez, public information manager for PRNS, as per ABC7 News.
The PRNS moved to dissolve its relationship with the foundation, which was notified to vacate by November 18. The city's decision comes after years without a formal agreement. It attempts at negotiation, which included the involvement of an outside mediator, as noted by Jon Cicirelli, the director of PRNS, in a letter to the community found on the City of San José's website. Cicirelli emphasized that the foundation's role in the park was limited to running Emma's Kitchen Garden, a slice of just one-third of an acre in the 40-plus park.
In response to these developments, the community has rallied on social media and through an online petition, expressing support for the foundation. The foundation has played a central role in perpetuating the vision of Emma Prusch, who donated her land in the 1960s to preserve it as an agricultural oasis. The discord underscores how cities engage with and support community foundations integral to maintaining public spaces. According to San José Spotlight, foundation members feel that their eviction notice is an act of retaliation for pressing the city on financial transparency.
