Cupertino Memorial Park — Attraction in Cupertino

Ostensibly, Memorial Park in Cupertino, across the street from De Anza College, commemorates two Navy SEALs from Cupertino who died in Afghanistan. Their stories are told at length in the book and subsequent movie Lone Survivor. The park essentially surrounds a stirring bronze statue of them.

It´s a large park, essentially in three zones: In the first zone, a children´s playground, the bathrooms, and scattered picnic benches, some with charcoal grills; the second zone is an interconnected array of shallow duck ponds (currently dry); thirdly, a flat, expansive grass field suitable to sports, an enclosed tennis courts area the corner, and a semi-enclosed festive area, having a large barbeque cooking facility, with ten picnic tables (with seating for ten each) and five round tables (with five seats each). It can be reserved for large groups with prearranged permission.

In the second zone there is a large stage with inclined semicircular seating, which hosts occasional (free) plays and live music, and a nearby large gazebo that occupies an island accessed by a bridge.

Other sources mention two separated tennis court areas, a baseball diamond, and/or senior housing. Except for one tennis court area (the one mentioned previously), these are technically not attached to the park.

(Cold) drinking water is available at two locations: outside the cinder-block restrooms in the first zone mentioned, and via a high-pressure spigot over a sink at the third zone. All the other freestanding water dispensers along the walkways are non-functional. The (men´s) restroom is handicapped-accessible, with one commode and one urinal, but remarkably, I´ve never seen a line to it. Each restroom has a soap dispenser and a paper towel dispenser (always clean and well-stocked), and a sink with a no-touch faucet.

A deficiency in this age of mobile devices is that there is only ONE publicly available electrical outlet in the entire park, being at the stage area, which is NOT intended to be used by park visitors, so don´t count on its continued availability.

I really like this park. I initially became acquainted with this park by shooting a film short there. There are others that are architecturally cleverer, but the large area, the many trees, low hillocks, knolls, and berms, the somber and beautiful memorial statue and area, the walking paths and bridges, the various athletic venues, means that one may find either privacy or fellowship, either exercise or repose, depending upon the mood. As for me, I have located the only two trees which provide day-long shade despite the Sun´s position, under which I bring and eat a weekly brunch.

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I've come to really love this park. Having lived in the area for 8 years and never stopped in, we began to play pickleball here. We have since taken walks all around the park with our dog and attended outdoor concerts. The mix of sports fields, playgrounds, community & senior centers, open greens, small hills, gazebo & shade, and the amphitheaters show a lot of good planning & thought. The park is in continual use by all and sundry. People plan picnics, attend free outdoor concerts and plays, enjoy tennis, baseball, volleyball and pickleball. Even the occasional closure of my usual parking lot can be tolerated because there are plenty of other nearby parking options. The Memorial Park is a perfect example of thoughtful governance that provides a community a place to gather, socialize and enjoy...

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I go here alot simply becuase its the only shribe i believe that angels hear prayers. I pray to the Angels of War to protect my children. For the rest of my life, i will always return here and pray for the Angels of Operation Redwing, the Nightstalkers, the Marines, the Army, the Navy, the Air Fore, the Coast Guard, the Merchant Marines, the Froggers, Everyone.

But really i pray for them hoping they protect my kids. Im a really selfish person. I truly believe the men and women of war from all theaters from all time protect us if you ask and have a good heart. So i pray here no matter the judgement. I highly recommend asking for blessings from our heroes...