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Published on 10/27/1999 All articles from this issue

Conner Park officially open to the public

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By Clyde Noel

Special to the Town Crier

For many years, it was just a weed-filled vacant lot used as a recycling center and later considered for a parking lot. But this past Saturday, the three-quarter-acre parcel at Edith Avenue and San Antonio Road was dedicated as Conner Park.

Council members approved the plans Feb. 24, 1998. The park includes lawns, paths, gentle berms and numerous benches for people to use when visiting downtown.

The original plan called for a $163,780 expenditure.

"We went to every council meeting till the council said let's do it," said Louise Lee, past president of the Parc Regent Homeowners Board. "We think it's beautiful and the weeds have a real purpose."

Mayor Lou Becker said the park was a long time in the making and we need to honor the people who donated the benches, the camellia gardens and the numerous trees to the city.

Conner Park was named after A. Watson Connor, a driving force behind the vote to incorporate Los Altos as a city in 1952. He became the first mayor and served on the city council from 1952-1956 and 1960-1964.

The name Conner Park was chosen after a long, painstaking process involving resident input. But Anthony Lagorio, who worked as city attorney during Conner's time on council, couldn't help but be amused by the choice.

"He hated parks," Lagorio laughed. "He once said, 'Every man has a park in his own back yard. That's why we put in 10,000-square-foot lots.' "