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Published on 07/07/1997 All articles from this issue

Grant Park: Just how a neighborhood should be

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By Carol Tiegs

Town Crier Staff Writer

"It's a nice proactive sort of neighborhood, very concerned, very caring. If something needs doing, the neighborhood does it. It's a great, great place to live." That's how Cindy Andrews describes her Grant Park neighborhood.

Like most of her neighbors, Andrews is clear about what defines the Grant Park community. It's bounded by Fremont Avenue, Grant Road, Foothill Expressway and Fallen Leaf Lane. Grant Park is the focal point.

"We all enjoy the park. It's our central point," said Diane Morales, who's lived in the neighborhood for 11 years.

Sharon and Steve Richard moved into the neighborhood three years ago.

"We take evening walks and we almost always go through Grant Park," Steve Richard said. "We feel a little pull to see who's there and what's going on."

Andrews recalled how community activism actually helped create Grant Park.

"When we moved here in 1982, Grant School had been declared surplus by the Cupertino Union School District," Andrews said. "When it became clear that the school district hoped to sell the school and surrounding property, the neighbors organized."

After two ballot initiatives, "we won approval for the city to acquire five acres and the school."

The former Grant School now houses city recreation programs and community meeting rooms.

"I've gotten to know a lot of neighbors through involvement in issues ... It's a very friendly neighborhood," said Carol Reinhardt, who's lived there for 16 years.

Just last month, 10 neighbors organized and went door-to-door to promote a neighborhood meeting to discuss Neighborhood Watch. Nearly two-thirds of community members turned out for a standing room only event.

Continuing that proactive spirit, the Richards are considering forming a neighborhood association as a way for neighbors to get to know one another.

"With so many people moving in, everyone is seeking a way to get to know one another," Steve Richard said.

New people are definitely moving in around Grant Park.

"It's a very popular neighborhood," said Royce Cablayan of Cornish & Carey, who sold the Richards their home. "People gravitate there because it feels like a small community in itself."

"There's been so much turnover in the last three years that we feel like old-timers now," said Sharon Richard. Angela Horine has lived in the neighborhood since 1969. She has seen a definite change in the neighborhood. "There were big families and almost all mothers stayed at home," Horine said. "Now families are smaller, with fewer kids."

Most elementary school-aged children in the Grant Park neighborhood attend Montclaire School on St. Joseph Avenue. The fact that Montclaire is in the Cupertino Union School District affects Grant Park residents' connection to Los Altos.

"Since we're not part of the Los Altos School District, the sense of community here is a little fragmented," Andrews said. "In many ways, we feel like stepchildren (of Los Altos) down here," Reinhardt said.

That in no way affects the residents' love of their neighborhood. "We have a smaller home and we have considered moving somewhere else to a larger house, but we don't want to leave the neighborhood," Reinhardt said.

"At our Neighborhood Watch meeting (June 19) people brought brownies and lemonade. The kids were there. ... I thought to myself, this is just what a neighborhood should be like," Morales said.

People interested in a Grant Park neighborhood association may call Steve Richard at 966-8429.