The Burrell Park neighborhood is celebrating its centennial Aug. 24 with an event to let the rest of the community know about its history. Burrell Court will be closed from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. for a day of festivities, music and speeches.
Live music performances include jazz saxophonist Mike Mendoza and local indie band Thelves. San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan will deliver an afternoon address, presenting a commendation to the Burrell Park Neighborhood Association for organizing the event.
Other speakers include District 6 City Councilmember Dev Davis and the two candidates running for her seat this November, Olivia Navarro and Michael Mulcahy.
The Burrell Park neighborhood encompasses Burrell Court and Hedding and McKendrie streets. It was first developed in 1924 after Frank Lester Burrell and his wife Anne proposed subdividing their orchard property at the intersection of Park Avenue and Hedding Court. The couple designed the neighborhood as affordable housing; according to a newspaper ad from the 1920s, homes in Burrell Park were selling for $4,500-$7,500.
At the celebration, Frank Burrell III, grandson of the neighborhood’s developer, will share insights and stories about his family’s contributions to the Santa Clara Valley, including what is now Burrell School Vineyards and Winery in the Santa Cruz Mountains above Los Gatos.
The event is free to the public. The Preservation Action Council (PAC) will lead walking tours of the neighborhood at 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. A suggested donation of $5 will go to support the PAC’s efforts.
For more information, visit https://calsj.org/D6/BurrellParkHomePage.pdf.
