One of San Jose's greatest parks has an amazing array of gardens and heritage buildings and plenty of trees to relax under.
With a wide range of facilities and shady spots for picnicking, Kelley Park is popular with San Joseans looking for a little slice of nature in the city.The area where Kelley park is now situated once belonged to a former mayor of San Jose who maintained a beautiful 250-hectare estate before selling the land to the city. Kelley Park now comprises 63 hectares of park land there is something to do at every turn, including Happy Hollow Park and Zoo, which is to the north of the park (a small entrance fee is charged), a tranquil Japanese Friendship Garden and the History Park Museum.The Japanese Friendship Garden is in a walled section of the park and was opened in October 1965. The design, which covers 2.5 hectares, is based on Japan's famous Korakuen Garden in Okayama, which is San Jose's sister city. Its three main ponds are filled with koi carp that were donated by the city of Okayama in 1966. It's a very pleasant place to stroll around and there are plenty of shady spots.You can go back in time to turn-of-the-century San Jose at the History Park. This recreation of small town America has plenty of objects dating back to San Jose's pioneer days, and there are fascinating exhibits about early settlers and other immigrants. The History Park was originally in another site but was moved here in the 1970s. There are 29 historic buildings to look at, including a post office, doctor's surgery and some beautiful residential houses. At the Trolley and Railroad Museum, you can see refurbished horse-drawn trolleys, as well as a steam engine dating back to 1913.Kelley Park is 3.2 kilometres southeast of downtown. Entrance to the park, the Japanese Friendship Garden and the History Park is free, however, parking and admission to Happy Hollow Park and Zoo attracts an entrance fee.
