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Chapter 2: Existing Conditions and Community Needs
Bikeways, Trails, Parks and Recreation Master Plan
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Morgan Hill Schools
Morgan Hill Unified School District (MHUSD) includes eight elementary schools, two middle
schools, and two high schools. Some of these schools include playground and field facilities
that are desirable to Morgan Hill community members. However, many schools limit access to
their facilities during evenings and weekends by locking gates. During this master planning
process the City initiated conversations with MHUSD to establish joint-use agreements for
school sites that enhance the City’s park offerings. For example, Nordstrom Elementary
School’s amenities augment the adjacent Nordstrom Park, a popular neighborhood park.
Table 2-5: Morgan Hill Unified School District Schools Proximate to City Parks
School
Nordstrom Elementary School
(Lewis H.) Britton Middle School
Ann Sobrato High School
Barrett Elementary School
Central Continuation High School
El Toro Elementary School
Jackson Academy of Math and Music
P. A. Walsh Elementary School
Paradise Valley Elementary School
Parks: Geographic Analysis
As the Existing Park Classifications table (2-1) shows, Morgan Hill has a service distance goal
for each type of park. The park system was evaluated from a walkability perspective using
these distances. To conduct the walkability analysis, a Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
model was used to identify “walksheds.” This approach reflects the way people move through
the City and accounts for physical barriers that impede access. The desired travel distances
used were ¼-mile and ½-mile, reflecting research on the distance a typical person can walk in
five and 10 minutes. (See Figures 2-4 and 2-5 for an illustration of park walksheds.) When
evaluated together, these methods of measurement provide a well-rounded picture of how
well the park and recreation system is serving the community.