‘It’s at a crisis level’: San Jose parks languish amid $554M maintenance budget backlog

A MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR work backlog in San Jose is leaving empty spaces where playground equipment used to be, basketball courts eroded and turf riddled with holes from squirrels and gophers.

San Jose’s parks department has a more than $554 million infrastructure backlog, according to a 2024 city status report — with many East Side parks in disrepair. Most of the city’s parks budget comes from development fees, and advocates are calling for the city to diversify funding in what they said is an equity issue.