Valley Water’s Adopt-A-Bench pilot program seeks to repurpose and beautify Valley Water’s old interpretive benches located along creeks around Santa Clara County. The pilot program launched in 2020 and included the design and installation of artwork onto seven benches, one in each Board District that visually conveys Valley Water’s stewardship messages and raises awareness of the nearby creeks.
Valley Water's Youth Commission worked with San Jose artist, Paul J. Gonzalez to develop the artwork, paint the artwork tiles and install them onto the benches.
Read Youth Commissioner Tammy Cao's blog post about the project.
Watch the Youth Commission's unveiling of the benches here: https://youtu.be/3PiBRDGcVJs
District 1 - Uvas Creek
District 1 - Bench #036
Creek: Uvas Creek
Location: Along Uvas Creek in Gilroy, CA within Christmas Hill Park and adjacent to the main parking lot along Miller Avenue.
Artwork installed on: January 20, 2021
Artist: Paul J. Gonzalez
District 2 - Saratoga Creek
District 2 - Bench #170
Creek: Saratoga Creek
Location: Along Saratoga Creek in Santa Clara, CA on Homestead Road between Woodhams Road and Pepper Tree Lane.
Artwork Installed on: January 21, 2021
Artist: Paul J. Gonzalez
District 3 - Berryessa Creek
District 3 - Bench #050
Creek: Berryessa Creek
Location: Along Berryessa Creek in Milpitas, CA within the Hidden Lake Park parking lot at Folsom Circle and Oroville Road.
Artwork installed on: January 19, 2021
Artist: Paul J. Gonzalez
District 4 - Alamitos Creek
District 4 - Bench #03
Creek: Alamitos Creek
Location: Along Los Alamitos Creek in San Jose, CA within the Los Alamitos Creek Trail parking lot at Camden Avenue and Mt. Forest Drive.
Artwork installed: January 20, 2021
Artist: Paul J. Gonzalez
District 5 - Stevens Creek
District 5 - Bench #19
Creek: Stevens Creek
Location: Along Stevens Creek in Cupertino, CA adjacent to the McClellan Ranch parking lot off of McClellan Road.
Artwork installed on: January 18, 2021
Artist: Paul J. Gonzalez
District 6 - Penitencia Creek
District 6 - Bench #132
Creek: Penitencia Creek
Location: Along Penitencia Creek in San Jose, CA adjacent to Penitencia Creek County Park near Mabury Road and Opie Court.
Artwork installed on: January 19, 2021
Artist: Paul J. Gonzalez