Installed with the help of our Park Maintenance team, these 3 farmer cut outs were ready for the Fall Festival so the public could see these displays of life on the farm in the days of the Cottle Lester family. The images for the farm cut outs were taken from the Cottle Lester archives with the help of Carolyn Schimandle from the Park Interpretative team and depict Leora Cottle on a 2-ton tractor at the entrance to the Park, a Filipino farm work with his harvest along the drive near the fields and Walter Lester as a boy with a Christmas goose near the Discovery Center area of the Park. Friends of Martial Cottle Park hired and funded a local San Jose artist Francisco Ramirez to design and paint the cutouts using funds they had raised from the local community. A big thank you to Park team members Sabine Sander and Jackie Zizana for their help and guidance in this project. FOMCP hopes to fund additional farmer cut outs around the Park next year as well. https://fomcp.org/

Friends of Martial Cottle Park held a fundraising event at Martial Cottle Park on Friday August 25 and Saturday August 26. Two of the farming cut outs made by San Jose Artist Francisco Ramirez were on display for the event. They will be installed in the park this fall along with another cut out featuring a member of the Cottle Lester family.

FOMCP is currently raising funds to promote agricultural and environmental awareness and education programs and projects that support and preserve Martial Cottle Park.

Please contact us at info@fomcp.org if you have any questions.

You are invited to watch a video about the history of Martial Cottle Park created by Rob McDonnell, Park Interpreter with Santa Clara County Parks.

If you are new to the park this is a great way to learn more about it and if you have been here for a while this could be a good refresher for you. 

Saturday May 13 , 9 am-12 pm at Martial Cottle Park

Come join park staff and the Friends of Martial Cottle Park in a fun and lively effort to install and maintain the multi-functional hedgerow at the park. Learn the positive impact these hedgerows have on the landscape and what it takes to keep them thrive

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY 

Hedgerow Work Day

May 14, 20

9am-12pm 

Registration required

https://scc.samaritan.com/custom/502/opp_details/4513

Season’s Greetings from Friends of Martial Cottle Park

Hedgerow Update

The Hedgerow Project was the first focus project for Friends of Martial Cottle Park. Thanks to our members, donors and fundraising events, we have been able to contribute $10,000.00 over the past years plus another $1,500.00 this year for a total of $11,500.00.

Farm Cutouts and Mural 

In conjunction with Parks Interpretive staff selected a total of 6 historical photos to be used for life size farm cutouts. Discussed initial placement of cut outs at MCP. New County art approval process being developed so all projects related to art (farm cutouts and mural) are on hold until this new process is determined.

School Bus Fund

FOMCP is partnering with Environmental Volunteers, who link funding for school bus transportation with teachers hoping to participate in school programs. They receive funding from various sources, with various stipulations, such as the funding being designated for specific schools, specific types of programs, etc. They take on all aspects of the process, including the application, selection, reimbursement of funds for the transportation for the classes, communication with the funders, etc. They have provided funding for at least one school to take part in the Martial Cottle school program.

What’s Growing Signs

Friends of Martial Cottle Park funded signs that are installed throughout the park that indicate the type of produce being grown by Jacob’s Farms.  Martial Cottle Park staff designed and installed the signs.

Equipment Refurbishment Parks will be replacing tires on historical vehicles. Staff will let FOMCP know final costs and FOMCP will contribute towards equipment refurbishment.