Hollister
– Friday brought another hot summer afternoon to Valley View
Park. But the park’s giant blue whale, which blows water from its
blowhole and surrounding fountains, sat silent and dry.
Hollister – Friday brought another hot summer afternoon to Valley View Park. But the park’s giant blue whale, which blows water from its blowhole and surrounding fountains, sat silent and dry.
Local mother Monica Sims, who was visiting the park with her 7-year-old daughter, recalled the neighborhood’s excitement when the whale was first turned on.
“I think everybody was looking forward to having that water,” she said. “It was huge.”
Sims said that when her neighbors tried to drum up support for building and improving the park, the water facility was a big selling point. Now it’s just a big disappointment, she said.
Sims isn’t the only one with complaints, said Clay Lee, director of the city’s community services department.
“We get plenty of calls,” Lee said.
The whale was installed in 2006 and provided water from Memorial Day to Labor Day, he said. But with the city forced to reduce its budget by $1.2 million annually, officials decided they couldn’t afford to keep the whale afloat.
Lee didn’t have the exact savings readily available, but he said the biggest expense is labor. The water’s chlorine level has to be checked at least daily, he said, and city workers need to be certified to do the inspections. Both of the park department’s certified staffers left because of the cuts, Lee said.
The $619,000 park opened in 2005. It was funded by $411,000 in state grants and $207,000 in city money.
Many of Sims’ neighbors didn’t realize the water would be turned off this summer, she said. When told the city doesn’t have enough money, Sims was skeptical.
“Did they think it would be self-maintained?” she said.
Lee said the criticisms are fair, but he added that the whale would be running if the sales tax increase defeated by local voters in November 2006 had succeeded.
“We’re not trying to hide anything,” Lee said. “The finances are what they are.”
Hollister mother Jenny Mata agreed that the lack of water is disappointing. Mata has a pool at home, but she said the whale provides a nice alternative.
“We have to put in more work with the pool,” she said. It’s nice to just run around (in the water).”
Without the water, Sims said more families will have to head to Gilroy, Morgan Hill or San Jose for fun.
Gesturing at the quiet park, she said, “There were so many families before. This is how it is now.”
