Guest column by Jane Howard: Gilroy’s bright vision for economic recovery lies in local recreational tourism
Gilroy is a stop along other outdoor attractions including Mt. Madonna Park, Henry W. Coe State Park, and Pinnacles National Park
By Jane Howard
Jane Howard
The city of Gilroy is taking bold action to address the economic challenges facing this community by recently issuing a request for proposals (RFP) to create a recreational and tourism destination located on 536 acres of city-owned property at the gateway of the scenic Hecker Pass Highway.
This action was the next step following the Gilroy City Council’s unanimous approval on Sept. 14 of a resolution supporting the vision of Gilroy becoming a recreation destination. This resolution was the result of the collaborative work of the newly formed organization, the Gilroy Economic Development Partnership.
Leaders from Visit Gilroy, Gilroy Chamber of Commerce, Gilroy Economic Development Corporation, Gilroy Downtown Business Association, Gilroy Gardens, Gilroy Garlic Festival, Gavilan College, and the city of Gilroy came together in early May 2020 to form the GEDP, which is focused on an economic recovery plan for Gilroy. Discussions by the GEDP members resulted in the vision for Gilroy to become a recreation destination and three key initiatives were adopted and submitted to the Gilroy City Council in September as part of the resolution approved by the Council. The initiatives include support for the following:
Future potential outdoor recreational projects on the 536 acres owned by the city of Gilroy that currently includes Gilroy Gardens; development of the Gilroy Sports Park, also owned by the city of Gilroy, as a regional recreation area and/or facility; and the Gourmet Alley project proposed for downtown Gilroy and its privately-owned buildings.
Each of these tourism-based initiatives will require Gilroy City Council commitment and leadership and can be accomplished with community support. Note the Gourmet Alley project also requires the commitment of the downtown property owners. Gilroy benefits from a history of successful tourism offerings including the world-renowned Gilroy Garlic Festival and Gilroy Gardens, selected by Visit California as the Central Coast’s Hidden Gem.
In addition, each year thousands of visitors travel to shop at the Gilroy Premium Outlets and sip and swirl at the award-winning Wineries of Santa Clara Valley. Furthermore, Gilroy is a stop along other outdoor attractions including Mt. Madonna Park, Henry W. Coe State Park, and Pinnacles National Park, attracting thousands of hikers, road cyclists and adventurers. Knowing the tourism industry will be changing following this unprecedented pandemic, Gilroy is positioning itself for what visitors in the future will be seeking — experiences providing an opportunity for enjoying the outdoors with a focus on health and wellness. The 536 acres owned by the city of Gilroy is a perfect venue for developing activities that will establish the community as a premier recreational and outdoor adventure destination, driving overnight stays in Gilroy to expand the tourism ecosystem in the Bay Area and Central Coast.
We are excited to be moving forward. Tourism in Gilroy can be a key driver for economic recovery in a post-COVID-19 world, and this innovative approach can make our shared vision of Gilroy as a recreation destination a reality. It is important to note this tourism-based vision will also have an incredible positive impact on the residents of Gilroy by not only contributing to the city’s annual budget by funding police, fire, parks, recreation, and city streets, but also providing local activities that will benefit the overall health and wellness of our residents.
Outdoor recreation opportunities such as mountain biking, hiking, cycling, zip lines, surf park, and other possibilities all contribute to a healthy lifestyle for locals. Not to be forgotten is the creation of new jobs that employ local residents and the direct and indirect induced revenue while supporting local businesses.
I believe there is a new hope and anticipation in this community as we welcome the beginning of a new year. Serving as the tourism director for the city of Gilroy for the past 15 years, I commend the city’s vision for economic recovery by moving forward with the 536 acres RFP focused on increasing visitation to this area.
Looking for more information or want to be involved? Feel free to contact me at [email protected]. We all recognize there is much to do to accomplish this vision — and together we will make it happen!
Jane Howard is the executive director of Visit Gilroy and the California Welcome Center located at the Gilroy Premium Outlets.