Kelley Park

Kelley Park is a 156-acre city park located in San Jose, California, just south of downtown in the East San Jose area. It’s a popular spot for locals and visitors alike, offering a mix of natural beauty, recreational activities, and cultural attractions. The park sits along Coyote Creek and is part of the larger Coyote Creek Park Chain. Its address is 1300 Senter Rd, San Jose, CA 95112, and it’s bounded by Story Road to the northwest, Senter Road to the southwest, Roberts Street to the northeast, and Yerba Buena High School and Phelan Avenue to the southeast. The park has a lot to offer. You can enjoy picnic areas with barbecue pits—some reservable, others first-come, first-served—shaded by mature trees, making it a great place for gatherings. It’s home to Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, a family-friendly spot with animals and rides, perfect if you’ve got kids or just enjoy a bit of playful nostalgia. The Japanese Friendship Garden is another highlight, a serene six-acre space with koi ponds, stone features, and trimmed shrubs, modeled after a garden in Okayama, Japan, San Jose’s sister city. Then there’s History Park (also called History San Jose), an outdoor museum with over 30 original and replica buildings that recreate a small town from the early 1900s, complete with trolleys you can ride on weekends. For the active types, there’s an 18-hole disc golf course in the walnut orchard behind History Park—free to play, just bring your discs. The park’s open daily from 8 a.m. until a half-hour after sunset, and while entry to the main park, the Japanese Friendship Garden, and History Park is free, parking will cost you $6 per day (or $10 in some lots, with discounts for seniors and military). You can pay with exact cash or credit card at the automated machines. Public transit is an option too—VTA bus lines #73 and #25 stop near Happy Hollow, and the Tamien Station (VTA Light Rail and Caltrain) is nearby with bus connections. Historically, the land started as a farm owned by Louise Kelley, who inherited it from her father, Judge Lawrence Archer, a former San Jose mayor. It was sold to the city in 1951 to become a public park, evolving over time with additions like Happy Hollow in 1961 and the Japanese Friendship Garden in 1965. Today, it’s a blend of open spaces, history, and community vibes—plenty of paths to walk, lawns to relax on, and a chance to step away from the urban grind of Silicon Valley.

Always a great experience. Free entrance except for special events. Volunteers throughout the park. Train / tram museum, you can ride a tram a short way through the park for free, and small San José items on display inside the old hotel. You can walk through some of the old homes. The small parking lot in front is free. Rear parking lot next to the Japanese Friendship Gardens is $6. A small visitor center and San Jose gift shop is located inside the old hotel.

Haven't been back here since we've moved 20 years ago. It's was great coming back with my oldest daughter.

The place is beautiful, with lots of family parties or friends gathering. I did see a minimal amount of homeless, but they do have park rangers patrolling some areas. We got a nice spot under the trees even in the hottest day they have a massive amount of trees to keep you cool, bathrooms are my biggest compliment they are not maintained well at all other then that a good place for a walk or a family party.

Very quiet, serene place to visit in San Jose area. A small pond filled with big gold fish with various color fish swimming around just waiting to be fed. There is a little kiosk machine where you can buy some fish food to feed the fish. There are some walking paths around the park where you can stroll at your own pace. It's a great family outing place to visit.