Commission recommends ‘Corn Palace Park’ name for new Delia Court mini park

The Sunnyvale Parks and Recreation Commission voted unanimously on Jan. 8, 2025, to recommend the City Council name a new neighborhood park at 1142 Delia Court “Corn Palace Park” and to try to recover the original Corn Palace sign for incorporation into the new park.

Jesus Regosa, superintendent for recreation services, presented the site history and naming options. Regosa said the city acquired a two-acre portion of a former family farm to provide a mini park intended to serve residents within about a quarter-mile walking distance. He told commissioners the site historically hosted a roadside farm stand called the Corn Palace that operated from 1965 until 2015 and that the park’s construction is expected to finish “sometime in February–March of ’25.”

Regosa walked commissioners through council Policy 7323, which assigns name decisions to City Council after the Parks and Recreation Commission provides recommendations and states the city gives greatest consideration to historically significant names. Regosa said staff had sought feedback from the Sunnyvale Heritage Park Museum, the Heritage Preservation Commission and the Human Relations Commission; those groups’ top recommendations included Corn Palace Park and Manzanita Park.

Commission debate focused on local history and whether to retain the word “park” in the recommended name. Chair Kesting said the Corn Palace name “embraces our culture” and argued for placing the historic sign in the park if the family would allow its recovery. Several commissioners voiced support for Corn Palace as the primary recommendation and for attempting to rescue the original sign for display or, if that is not possible, to recreate a similar sign.

A motion to recommend Corn Palace Park and to pursue the sign was seconded and passed in a roll-call vote: Commissioner Geary, Commissioner Vermont, Chair Kesting, Commissioner Gitani and Vice Chair Mason voted yes; the motion passed 5-0. The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for final naming authority.

The proposed park plan includes a youth play area with some inclusive features, shaded seating, a walking loop, fitness equipment and small shaded structures; staff described the park as a neighborhood mini park rather than a larger community park. Regosa said staff had not completed neighborhood outreach beyond consulting the heritage and human relations groups and that the planning district for the site is Ponderosa but a Ponderosa Park already exists, which influenced name choices under Policy 7323.

The commission opened a public hearing on the name; no members of the public spoke during the hearing. The commission’s motion was limited to a recommendation to council; the City Council retains final naming authority under Policy 7323.