O'Toole Elms Park

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Parks

California

Nearby: Parc Metro West John Mcdermott Park

Last Updated: December 5, 2025

O'Toole Elms Park is a public park located in San Jose, California.

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Summary

The park covers an area of 10 acres and features a variety of recreational facilities and natural attractions. There are several good reasons to visit the park, including its peaceful and serene environment, well-maintained grounds, and plenty of space for outdoor activities.

One of the main points of interest in the park is the grove of elms trees that gives the park its name. These trees are some of the oldest and largest in San Jose and are a popular spot for picnics and relaxation. Other notable features of the park include a playground, picnic areas, and walking trails.

Visitors to O'Toole Elms Park can also enjoy a range of outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, and birdwatching. The park is home to a variety of bird species, including hawks, owls, and woodpeckers.

Interesting facts about O'Toole Elms Park include the fact that it was once part of a much larger estate owned by the O'Toole family. The park is also home to a historic barn that dates back to the 1800s.

The best time of year to visit O'Toole Elms Park is during the spring and summer months when the weather is warm and dry. However, the park is open year-round and can be enjoyed in any season.

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.

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