Mountain View is clearing the way for a brand-new neighborhood park in the Terra Bella area, stitching together three adjoining parcels on San Rafael Avenue into one sizable stretch of green. City crews have already torn down at least one structure, and the city has spent millions to assemble the site for public use. Planners say the future park will add roughly 2.4 acres of open space in a neighborhood that now has under 1.5 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents.
According to Mountain View Voice, a March 24 city staff report outlines the plan to combine 909, 917 and 939 San Rafael Avenue into a roughly 2.4-acre park and recommends demolishing the existing buildings. The outlet reports that Mountain View spent about $24.8 million to buy the three parcels and that the council recently approved roughly $105,000 to demolish the vacant two-story house at 917. That same report notes a 13,800-square-foot office building at 909 is still leased for now, while a roughly 9,200-square-foot office at 939 is already on the chopping block.
What the city bought
The City Council signed off on buying 909 and 917 San Rafael Avenue on Sept. 13, 2022, shifting roughly $20.4 million from the Park Land Dedication Fund into the acquisition project, according to the Mountain View City Council agenda. The council later approved purchasing 939 San Rafael Avenue on Oct. 8, 2024 and appropriated about $6.05 million for that deal, as shown in an Oct. 8 consent item listed with the Mountain View City Council.
Costs and timeline
The city’s project list labels San Rafael Park as a 2.40-acre capital project and notes that a request for proposals for design consultants is expected in summer 2026, with demolition and site clearing at 939 already listed as in progress. The same project page shows construction scheduled to start in the fourth quarter of 2026 and continue through phased completion into 2030, assuming the schedule holds.
Neighbors, pickleball and what comes next
Not every early idea for the site landed well. Residents pushed back last year when staff floated the possibility of dedicated pickleball courts on San Rafael Avenue, and that concept was dropped amid community opposition as the broader park plan gained steam. City spokesperson Lenka Wright told Mountain View Voice that once the park design is completed and cleared for construction, the lease at 909 will be terminated and that building will be slated for demolition as part of the park work.
City staff say the formal park development process is set to kick off this fall, starting with public outreach and design. Council approvals, consultant selection and winding down existing leases will ultimately determine the exact date bulldozers arrive in force. If the timeline posted on the city’s project list holds, construction could start in late 2026 and continue through spring 2030.
