In the middle of Fremont’s Mission District, a vacant parcel covered in dried grass and placed tangent to newly built houses is expected to transform into Fremont’s newest park: the Palm Avenue Community Park.
Championed by Fremont’s 2022 Parks and Recreation Master Plan, the Palm Avenue Community Park is scheduled to open in early 2028. The park, which will accommodate the entire Mission community, will have a similar layout to other Fremont parks, with a playground and sports fields, surrounded by open lawns and paved walking paths. However, planning a project of this magnitude is no easy task; planners, council members, and people across the community all must be on the same page to ensure the park’s success.
Connie Chao, who is a landscape designer helping design the Palm Avenue Community Park, described the project as “a brand-new 13-acre park”: 12 acres of city property, plus a one-acre easement (a grant of right that allows the park to use a portion of private land) from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. As a community park, Chao said it is intended to “serve the entire community, not just the adjacent neighborhoods,” and will include key amenities, such as sports fields, parking lots, and restrooms.
Chao stressed that the project is still in the concept phase: staff are preparing three conceptual plans that will be presented to the Recreation Commission and the public for feedback before they “narrow those three into one draft master plan.” The draft will undergo another public review and must be approved by City Council; Chao said the team is “hoping to have Council approve the master plan by February 2026.”
If approved, consultants will produce construction documents. The city aims to start construction at the end of 2026 or early 2027, with an anticipated opening in 2028 — although Chao cautioned that the schedule could shift due to budget, utilities, procurement, or weather — she noted that even picnic tables can take eight to 12 weeks to arrive.
Accessibility, including ADA-compliant paths, inclusive play equipment, and extra benches, is a priority. The design will also balance active areas, such as open lawns, courts, and a climbing wall, with quieter features like a succulent garden and meditation area.
Joseph Miao, a Mission San Jose High School student who lives near the future park’s location, said he expects it to have a positive impact on the neighborhood. He believes that it will foster greater community engagement through public events and volunteer opportunities, and encourage children to step outside and away from screens. “Especially in an age where we’re all growing up with technology and AI is becoming more prominent, it’s nice to just reconnect with nature sometimes and have a safe outdoor environment for growing kids,” he said.
Another student at Mission San Jose High School, Natalie Lim, expressed a similar sentiment. “I think the new park would definitely be a visual upgrade from the empty lot that it is currently. The empty lot isn’t particularly nice to look at right now,” she noted, viewing the park as a valuable space for community members to connect with one another. Lim expects students to use the park frequently on weekends and after school for activities such as picnics, club meetings, or simply hanging out, given its convenient proximity to Mission San Jose High and nearby residences.
However, both Miao and Lim also raised concerns about the construction phase, with Lim noting that “Palm Avenue is already a major route to the school that already experiences significant traffic before and after school. Construction would only serve to further slow down the commuters.” Despite the headache that traffic may cause before and after school, along with the potential safety hazard it poses to the neighboring community, both parties agreed that the long-term benefits would outweigh the short-term inconveniences.
The city’s dedication to creating this 13-acre park remains steadfast. Over the next few years, the Mission District will see construction begin and have a new park emerge as a place for recreation, connection, and enjoyment for years to come.
