San Jose’s parks are slowly dying a budget-slashed death, and honestly, we’re not okay with it.

The city’s Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services is facing a brutal financial beatdown that’s leaving our green spaces looking more sad and neglected than your ex’s Instagram. With a whopping $35.6 million budget deficit and a massive $550 million maintenance backlog, our beloved parks are basically becoming urban wastelands.

The Painful Numbers

Let’s break down this municipal tragedy: the parks department is losing $2.5 million next year, which means fewer staff, less maintenance, and more overgrown, trash-filled spaces. They’re currently short about 100 staff members, which means parks that once sparkled are now looking like they’ve given up on life.

Volunteer Power to the Rescue?

Local heroes like Kathy Kleinsteiber are stepping up, creating pollinator gardens and trying to keep parks alive through sheer volunteer determination. But let’s be real - volunteers can’t fix systemic underfunding. The city went from 227 full-time staff maintaining 1,475 acres in 2002 to just 183 staff managing 1,801 acres now. Math doesn’t lie, and these numbers are screaming neglect.

A Glimmer of Hope?

The department is exploring potential solutions like community outreach and a potential ballot measure to secure sustainable funding. But until then, San Jose’s parks are living on life support, desperately waiting for a budget CPR that might never come.

If you love your parks, it’s time to get loud and demand better.