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When Marion Proscia moved to California from rural Massachusetts in 1972 she was expecting much of what she had been used to.

"I thought I was coming out to the wide open West," she chuckled. Proscia and her husband managed to avoid the hustle and bustle of the emerging Silicon Valley by taking to the hills for a time.

But now that their children have flown the coop and have kids of their own, the couple has moved to the more populated Jackson Park neighborhood in Mountain View, which they chose for its general centrality and the nearby park, from which the area derives its name.

"We chose the house very specifically because we anticipated our children and our 10 grandchildren would enjoy the park on their visits," Proscia said of Jackson Park — an easy walk from anywhere in the small neighborhood, which is bounded by Shoreline Boulevard, Stierlin Road, Windmill Park Lane, Central Avenue, Moffett Boulevard and Central Expressway. "It's nice to see the children of all races and parents come together and have so much fun," she added, speaking of the area's highly diverse population.

Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish and Mexican immigrants have all brought colorful flourishes of their respective cultures to the neighborhood. Japanese-Americans hold the annual Obon festival to honor the memory of their ancestors at the nearby Buddhist Temple on Stierlin Road. Across the street from the temple is the Portuguese Hall, and six weeks after Easter the Portuguese Holy Ghost Parade celebrates spring with the ringing of marching-band brass.

"The good thing, as far as having kids here, is that they meet people from all different backgrounds and all different income levels," Linda Klippel said, seconding Proscia's comment. Her children, she explained, go to the nearby Los Altos High School where "kids drive BMWs in their senior year."

Klippel moved into the area in 1979. The house across the street dates to 1905, and hers was built in 1921 by a Portuguese immigrant, whose sister laid roots in the home next door. One may also find apartments within the neighborhood's boundaries in addition to a wide price range of houses to rent or own.

"Best of all," she said, "we're pretty much all walking distance to Safeway, and walking or bicycling distance to Castro Street."

Klippel said anyone looking for "an interesting neighborhood with a great mix of people," whether they want something new or something that was built 60 to 80 years ago, ought to check out Jackson Park.

Maureen Rausch, her husband, Gerd, and their daughter moved to the area from Germany in 2005. Rausch said her daughter loves the park: "We can put her on her tricycle and be there in a minute and a half, depending on how fast she peddles."

The mother is thrilled with the neighborhood's proximity to downtown, the grocer and public transportation access. Her husband enjoys an easy commute, taking the two-minute walk to the Valley Transit Authority Light Rail stop on Central Expressway and hopping on the train.

Klippel warned that Moffett Boulevard is usually very busy and that the nearby Caltrain station is a source of noise, but could think of few other caveats she might include in her endorsement of the neighborhood.


FACTS


FIRE STATION: No. 1, 251 S. Shoreline Blvd.

PARK: Jackson Park, Jackson Street and Stierlin Road

POST OFFICE: Mountain View, 211 Hope St.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Mtn. View-Whisman School District — Monta Loma or Theuerkauf elementary schools, Crittenden Middle School; Mtn. View-Los Altos Union High School District — Mountain View High School

SHOPPING: Moffett Boulevard, Downtown Mountain View

MEDIAN 2008 HOME PRICE: $960,000

HOMES SOLD: 1

— Nick Veronin