Sunnyvale’s latest park, which honors the city’s farming heritage, is now open.
Earlier this year, the Sunnyvale City Council named the park located at 1197 Lily Ave. Corn Palace Park. From 1965 until 2015, the two-acre parcel where the park is located acted as a farm stand.
On June 27, the city cut the ribbon on the new park, signifying its grand opening. The park is the city’s 27th in Sunnyvale. For 50 years, the Francia family owned the park. Two generations of the family were present at the ribbon-cutting.
Mayor Larry Klein injected his comments with lots of “corny” puns. He said the “kernels” of Sunnyvale’s community come together at Corn Palace, something he said is “truly a-maize-ing.”
He said he wanted to give the audience an “earful,” telling everyone all about the city’s passion for public spaces. He added that the park is the “cream of the crop.”
“For me, this is a great day for playground climbers, for soccer players, for those who just want to enjoy a picnic at the park,” Klein said. “Our children will have the joy of playing on land that was once farmland.”
The council considered many names for the park, many of which involved incorporating elements of the area’s Native American legacy. The city’s historic society, heritage commission and the human relations commission all favored the name.
The decision to name the park Corn Palace saw universal support among the council. Many council members noted that, regardless of what the council named it, the public would likely continue to call it Corn Palace.
The land’s history stretches back to the 1860s. Following World War II, the 20-acre area was converted to farmland. In 2020, the city purchased land, converting the portion outside the park’s footprint into housing.
Chip Taylor, public works director, said the park opening was “really exciting,” especially since it preserves the theme and roots of the park’s historic use. Additionally, he said the park is a haven for bees, improving the local ecosystem.
Council Member Alysa Cisneros previously said that the park’s unique name will encourage people to learn more about its unique history.
In addition to playgrounds, the park also features fitness equipment, shaded seating and picnic areas.
Contact David Alexander at d.todd.alexander@gmail.com
