Emma Prush Park and Farm

Last week we spent a day on the farm and we never left San Jose. Near Story & King roads, beneath the HWY 101 and I280 interchange, lies a barnyard oasis complete with chickens, ducks, geese, pigs, goats, steers, bunnies and peacocks, where broccoli grows right out of the ground. Yes, city slickers, you too can visit this farm.

The “park and farm” was a gift to the city from Emma Prush who was born there in 1876. She grew on the dairy farm and eventually ran it. In 1962 Emma gave 87 acres to the city of San Jose, with the stipulation that it build a park, “a place of relaxation, recreation, and enjoyment for the people of the City of San Jose, and in such a manner as will, to extent that such can be reasonably done, give to said park a rural county character and atmosphere.”

Emma’s gift has made it possible to experience, or relive, what life was like when this was the “Valley of Hearts Delight.”

Emma Prush Park and Farm 7 February,2012Becca King Reed

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