Alviso Adobe Community Park
This 1.8-acre park includes a picnic area, an open grassy playfield and a 460-square foot community building available for rental by the public. The Alviso Adobe Community Park houses the Parks & Recreation Department offices.
Alviso Adobe Community Park sits on lands which were part of Governor Alvarado's Rancho San Antonio land grant in 1839, one of the few Mexican land grants to survive intact today. The park's main feature is a replica of an adobe home, known as an "alviso," which was used throughout Central and South America for a variety of purposes including housing, storage and animal herding.
The Alviso Adobe Community Park opened in 1982 to honor the long history of this area which dates back to 1810 when Ensign Gabriel Moraga named it "Los Vaqueros" because local bandits were holding up herds of wild cattle from Mission San Jose. The town was later called Agua Caliente (now Warm Springs) because of the hot sulphur springs nearby where people came to bathe and drink its healing waters. Around 1918 it became popularly known as Alviso, the name of the original Mexican land grant owner.
The replica adobe was built by local stonemason Jim Canepa using over 300 tons of fieldstone he provided from his Pleasanton property. To create a traditional adobe look, stones were shaped into mud bricks to be used in the construction. Some bricks are stamped with "Esperanza" meaning hope in Spanish. The adobe was constructed on site without mortar for an authentic appearance. It has been determined eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places through research conducted by Stacie Beyl, Local History Librarian at the Pleasanton Public Library and is also designated as California State Landmark No House #1008.
In 2006, an extensive restoration effort was undertaken with volunteers helping to clear overgrown vegetation surrounding the building and repaint worn surfaces that once made up vibrant colors on its exterior. They also helped remove old pieces of sheet metal that were used as siding and faced with wood planks along with asbestos and lead paint which were hazardous materials found within areas of the original structure. The lower level of the building was once used as a jail by law enforcement agents, but is now open to visitors who can see what it looked like in its heyday. The park underwent another restoration effort in 2017 where more than 300 volunteers repaired damaged brick walls and re-painted its outside adobe walls along with the original interior wooden beams that were present when the Peralta family first moved there in 1834.
A new library called The Civic Center Library opened in July 2009 next door to city hall that replaced an older building that housed the public library for over 50 years. If you enjoy local history and historic homes, downtown Alviso is a place you should consider visiting to take pictures and learn more about this area.
Recently, Alviso Adobe Community Park has become one of the most popular places to hold weddings due to its beautiful landscape surrounded by oak trees and greenery that gives off a rustic ambiance to the scene. Dressed up by hanging flowers on its front archway entrance , lights on a brick wall background and chairs and tables for guests to sit and enjoy a great meal, the park looks just like the way it did in 1834 when it was built.
On Alviso Adobe Community Park's west side is an open grass field which provides an unobstructed view of Mount Diablo , one of Northern California's most famous landmarks. It is said that whoever can see its peak has good luck for the rest of their life!
Amenities
- Barbecue Grills
- Drinking Fountains
- Fishing & Hiking Trails
- Picnic Area
- Playgrounds
- Restrooms
- Walking Paths
It's easy to see why this park was one of the first parks in Santa Clara County. With a playground, picnic areas, and ample open space for sports or just relaxing with your family, Alviso Adobe Community Park is perfect for families looking to get outside on their day off. If you're considering visiting for yourself or if you've been before but are interested in learning more about what new amenities have come online since your last visit, give us a call! We can't wait to hear from you soon!
Pleasanton, California is blessed with some of the area's most amazing parks you shouldn't miss. Here's a list of some of our favorites:
- Mission Hills Park
- Bernal Community Park
- Muirwood Community Park
- Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park
- Val Vista Park
- Moller Park
- Creekside Park
- Alviso Adobe Community Park
- Amador Valley Park
All of these wonderful schools are located just a short distance from our amazing location at 4900 Hopyard Road, Suite 100 in Pleasanton! Stop by for a visit anytime!
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