Gore Park Transformation Planning Team jumps into action.The transformation of Gore Park in Downtown San Jose is definitely a team effort and the team is off and running. As a private/public collaboration, the project team includes representatives from 1stACT Silicon Valley, the City of San Jose's Office of Economic Development, Department of Parks and Recreation, Department of Transportation, Public Art Program and Redevelopment Agency, and the leaders of the arts organizations and key stakeholders on the street. The team is now meeting weekly to realize their collective vision for the space. Key foundational work regarding the current structure of the park and the logistics of closing the street has been completed and the team will soon begin developing a final design.

Excitement about the project and what it will mean for the SoFA district continues to grow with the announcement of ArtPlace's support. "The San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art has been committed to the SoFA district for more than 30 years" said Cathy Kimball, executive director of the ICA. "This project will allow us to extend our programming and our motto, 'make art here,' beyond the walls of the building to activate the entire district." As Downtown San Jose's arts and culture district, SoFA offers a diversity of services and experiences. The creation of a "destination" at the south end of the district will tie it together and leverage the investment that has already been made in SoFA. The neighborhood is looking forward to enjoying their outdoor living room. Pull up a chair!