NEWS RELEASE: Community is Invited to Help Shape the Future Name of Plaza de César Chávez through a Ranked Choice Survey

CONTACT
Ed Bautista, Interim Public Information Manager, Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services Department
408-460-4468; [email protected]

Community is Invited to Help Shape the Future Name of Plaza de César Chávez through a Ranked Choice Survey

The survey follows a series of community listening sessions and a public name suggestion period that generated ideas from residents, stakeholders, and community organizations. Eligible name suggestions were reviewed in accordance with City Council Policy 7-5, which establishes criteria for naming City-owned land and facilities.

"Community engagement is fundamental to how we make important decisions that shape the future of San José," said City Manager Jennifer Maguire. "Every survey response helps us better understand the community's priorities and provides valuable input as we prepare a recommendation for the Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council."

The Ranked Choice Survey gives participants the opportunity to rank their preferred names, providing a more comprehensive understanding of community priorities and helping identify the names with the broadest community support.

"The extraordinary response from our community reflects how deeply San Joséans care about this historic gathering place," said Mayor Matt Mahan. "Residents shared an inspiring range of names and ideas, and now we're inviting them to rank the finalists so we can move closer to a name that honors the plaza's history, reflects our shared values and represents the community it serves."

Community engagement has been central to the renaming process. Earlier listening sessions identified several themes that continue to guide the effort, including the park's role as a community gathering place, the importance of preserving its history, its connection to family memories, and its significance to San José's civic identity.

The Ranked Choice Survey is intended to inform staff recommendations and provide meaningful community input. Following the survey, staff will review the results and present recommendations to the Parks and Recreation Commission on September 2, 2026. The Commission's recommendation will then be forwarded to the San José City Council, which will make the final decision on the park's new name.

Residents are encouraged to complete the survey before midnight, August 3, 2026.

The survey is available online at:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/29TD923

For more information about the renaming process, including the project timeline and frequently asked questions, visit:
https://bit.ly/intheworks-prns

About Plaza de César Chávez
Located in the heart of Downtown San José, Plaza de César Chávez has served as the city's civic gathering place for nearly 250 years. Originally established as the plaza of the Pueblo de San José in 1777, the site has evolved alongside the city while remaining a destination for community celebrations, cultural events, public gatherings and everyday recreation. The current renaming process seeks to honor that rich history through an open, transparent and community-driven public engagement process.

About the City of San José
With almost 1 million residents, San José is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States and is Northern California's largest city and the 13th largest city in the nation. San José's transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world.

About Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services
The City of San José Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services Department (PRNS) oversees ten regional parks, over 200 neighborhood parks, more than 40 community centers, and 65 miles of trail. It has one of the most diverse service models of any agency of its type. For more information, please visit www.sanjoseca.gov/prns.

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