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In America of the 1950s, with the post-war baby boom in full force, it was common for cities in the southern and western United States, where the amusement industry was not established as in other parts in the country, to develop child-oriented amusement facilities. Usually undertaken as a project by a civic organization such as the Rotary, Lions, Kiwanis, or Jaycees, many of these facilities have survived into the 21st century.
After a half-century of operation, most of them face the challenge of upgrading and revitalizing aging operations, with funding for needed repairs a significant barrier. This is not the case, however, at Happy Hollow Park and Zoo in San Jose, California, which is wrapping up a $72 million makeover funded by a voter-approved bond issue and the local community.
A Community Project
The roots of Happy Hollow Park date back to 1956 when the San Jose Junior Chamber of Commerce (Jaycees) decided it wanted to launch a project that would have a lasting benefit for the children of the community. As luck would have it, at the time the city was in the process of being willed the 600-acre estate of Louise Kelley to incorporate into the park system. A stipulation in the will required the city to designate a 7.5-acre parcel for the benefit of the children of the community.
An agreement was reached in which the Jaycees would lead a fund-raising drive to build exhibits, and the city would be responsible for park development and management.
 The group decided rather than a simple kiddieland that many service organizations were opening at the time, it would develop a creative playland, featuring storybook exhibits and attractions such as a fire engine, riverboat, and puppet theater.
The park also featured several rides, most of which were provided by Arrow Development of nearby Mountain View, California. This included “Danny the Dragon”—a dragonshaped train ride with a unique guidance system that follows a radio signal emitted from a cable buried underground. It was one of only four rides of this type built by Arrow, and it remains the last one in operation.
Over the decades the park continued to grow. In 1967, exotic animals from a private animal collection were added in the area of Kelley Park adjacent to Happy Hollow Park. This zoo was unsuccessful, and in 1973 the city launched a r e d e v e l o pment . When i t reopened in 1976 it was integrated into the rest of Happy Hollow Park, expanding the total size of the facility to 12 acres.
By the 1990s, Happy Hollow Park and Zoo had become a beloved community institution attracting more than 350,000 people annually. Unfortunately, the park had not seen a major upgrade since it opened. Buildings went unpainted, utilities needed a major upgrade, the facility did not comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act,, ride maintenance was problematic, and the animal areas were located in a floodplain.
“It was worn out and needed refreshing. It had been loved to death,” says Vanessa Rogier, head of public relations.
Launching the Revitalization
Throughout the 1990s, efforts were undertaken by the city to develop a master plan to renovate the park, but funding issues and other community priorities delayed the initiative. By 2000, San Jose’s 3,500-acre park system was being strained by the city’s rapid growth.
The timing was perfect to launch a comprehensive upgrade of the park system funded by a $228 million bond issue, the first such proposal since Happy Hollow opened in 1961. While funding would be dedicated to building playgrounds, upgrading athletic fields, and improving trails, central to the proposal was $52 million to fund the renovation of Happy Hollow Park and Zoo. With broad community support, the referendum passed with 78 percent of the vote. In 2001, the planning process was launched. The Portico Group, a Seattle firm whose clients include zoos, aquariums, botanical attractions, museums, and municipal parks, was hired to guide the process.
 “The park was a community effort, built willy-nilly without a plan,” says former General Manager Barbara Coats. But that history also gave the park a unique atmosphere. “People love the funkiness of it,” she says. There was broad consensus— while they saw the need for an upgrade, they did not want to see the atmosphere changed.
Dennis Meyer, principal at the Portico Group, appreciated this passion. “The community memory was of a facility that was accessible, whimsical, fun for kids, and covered with mature trees. They did not want to lose that.” As a result Portico developed an overall concept of a whimsical woodland adventure. “Everything we did was guided by that.”
But there were also more practical issues that Portico needed to consider. It was important to move the zoo out of the floodplain, visitor amenities needed to be upgraded, and in keeping with the park’s conservation mission, the renovation had to be environmentally friendly.
A Better Introduction
Since parking had been an issue, a new lot is being constructed on a former landfill across the creek from the park. An elevated pedestrian bridge will then lead visitors through the treetops to the entrance. “It will be their introduction,” says Meyer.
Portico decided to keep rides and animals separate but to integrate them as a single facility. A new entry plaza will be home to the new concessions. It will lead to “a road from here to there” that connects the features.
The attractions area will have points of interest based on California history—Redwood Lookout, separate play areas for big and small kids; the “Pacific Fruit Express” roller coaster; Giggle Grove, featuring three new and two restored kiddie rides, including the “Mini Putt”; another vintage ride from Arrow; the “Miner’s Maze”; and “Danny the Dragon.”
The “Dragon” is such an integral part of Happy Hollow and its identity, maintaining it is critical. However, it has been problematic from a maintenance perspective. As a result, “Dragon” will be extensively renovated and outfitted with a new environmentally friendly drive train. Another new attraction will be the “Keep Around Carousel” from Chance Morgan, featuring endangered animals.
Three new animal areas will also be constructed—the HH Ranch, themed to a Central Valley ranch to house the farm animals; the tropical lemur exhibit, complete with an integrated play area, and an Australian-themed wallaby exhibit. Additional space has been set aside to relocate the animal areas that remain in the floodplain.
Commitment to the Earth
The park is applying for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. To accomplish this, seven green roofs will feature native plant species to provide habitat for wildlife. The buildings will have abundant natural light and radiant flooring for cooling and heating, eliminating the need for an HVAC system. In addition, water will be recycled and used for nonpotable functions throughout the facility, porous asphalt paving will eliminate runoff, storm water will be captured for reuse, materials such as rocks and glass from demolished buildings will be reused, and low-fume paints and recycled plastic lumber will be utilized.
One of the most green features will be the Learning L.O.D.G.E. (Learn, Observe, Discover, Go, Explore!) educational facility, which will be built out of hay bales.
Great care was also taken in preserving existing landscaping with three-fourths of the plants and trees being preserved. “We really challenged them with what was important,” says Coats.
Current Status
By the time construction started in 2007, the cost of the project had increased to $72 million. Fortunately several other projects in the bond issue had come in under budget, and the city was able to close the gap with funds reallocated from elsewhere.
In summer 2008, following an auction of surplus equipment that raised $92,000, construction moved into its second phase, forcing the facility to close so everything would be ready for a fall 2009 opening. But larger forces were at work.
With the global recession in full force, the city was facing a $77.5 million deficit, and it decided to delay the reopening to March 20, 2010. While its core mission of serving the children of the community will remain intact, Happy Hollow Park and Zoo will be totally transformed for the 21st century.
Jim Futrell has been historian for the National Amusement Park Historical Association since 1984. He serves on IAAPA's Hall of Fame and Archives Committee and oversees the association's Oral History Project. His fourth book, “Amusement Parks of Virginia, Maryland and Delaware,” was released last year.
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