Five Year Capital Improvement Plan Projects Parks Department FY 2025-30
Through its management of 24 parks, recreation areas, and historic sites, the San Mateo County Parks Department protects and stewards the County’s natural, cultural, and recreational resources for the public’s enjoyment. In recent years, the Department has utilized its Capital Improvement Program to create new recreational opportunities for the public based on feedback received from the community and trends in outdoor recreation. To ensure a high-quality experience for the nearly three million county park visitors served each year, the Department focuses on three strategic priorities: visitor services, facilities and infrastructure, and natural resource management.
The Department has structured its Five-Year Capital Improvement Program to expand recreation opportunities for the public, address deferred maintenance, and improve public safety. Through the proposed projects, the Department will be able to create a more innovative, inclusive, and safe park system. Specifically, the Department will build its first two inclusive playgrounds; modernize visitor serving amenities including camping, picnic, and restroom facilities; improve and expand its fire road system to enhance first responders’ ability to respond to fire in the parks; and improve the Coyote Point Beach Chalet. Each of the Capital Improvement Program’s projects will enable the Department to provide enhanced services to the public, improve overall access to county parks and the outdoors, create operational efficiencies within the parks system, and enhance public safety.
Featured Projects
Inclusive Playgrounds
To create more inclusive play experiences in the County park system, the Department will build its first two inclusive playgrounds – one at Flood Park in Menlo Park and one at Coyote Point in San Mateo. According to inclusiveplaygrounds.net, inclusive playgrounds are universally designed, sensory-rich environments that enable users to develop physically, socially, and emotionally; they go above and beyond minimum accessibility standards. Each of the proposed playgrounds will utilize design features and playground equipment to create the desired play opportunities for people of varying ages, abilities, and interests.
At Flood Park, the playground will include two play towers connected by a 15-foot bridge, a swing bank with five swings, a two-bay zipline, two spinners, four slides, a nature play zone, and a separate playground for children ages two to five years old. Playground surfacing will be poured in place rubber, which provides a stable surface for play, is padded for child safety, and is supportive of varying types of mobility. The Department has included several design elements to ensure the playground can welcome an array of users. Of the two towers, one contains a spiraled net ramp that can be walked or crawled up, as well as a bridge that provides accessible entry to the tower’s midlevel. The swing bank, zipline, and spinners all include accessible options so everyone can enjoy these popular features. The Department went to great lengths to balance inclusiveness and challenge play so Flood Park can be a regional destination for all. This playground will open to the public in Quarter 1 of 2026 and is being funded through a combination of Measure K and Non-Departmental.
Magic Mountain Playground is the most popular amenity at the Coyote Point Recreation Area. Using Measure K funds and federal funding secured by Representative Kevin Mullin, the Department will build an inclusive playground that can serve people of varying ages, abilities, and interests. Based on community engagement, the public desires opportunities to climb, slide, spin, and swing. Survey respondents favored features that promote group and challenge play. Most desired features included 30 foot tall tower with three slides, a zip line, friendship swings, round spinners, and climbing structures. Using the Desing-Build delivery method, the Department will solicit proposals from qualified firms in the fall of 2025 and prepare project design documents throughout the winter. Depending on availability of play equipment, construction will start in mid-2026 with an opening in early 2027. Creating an inclusive playground at Coyote Point is important as Coyote Point’s central location allows it to serve residents from throughout the San Mateo County.
Restroom Renovations
Using the successful renovations of restrooms at Flood Park as a model, the Department will conduct comprehensive renovations to four restrooms in the County park system: the Magic Mountain Playground restroom at Coyote Point, the Zwerlain and Werder restrooms at Huddart Park, and the Walnut restroom at San Pedro Valley.
As part of each project, the restrooms will have new fixtures (e.g., toilets, sinks, faucets, hand dryers, partitions, mirrors) installed to ensure the facilities properly function and are inviting. New epoxy will be added to the floor to improve traction as well as create operational efficiencies in cleaning and maintenance of the facilities. The interior and exterior of the facilities will be cleaned and painted and new lighting will be added to improve visibility and safety. In some cases, plumbing will need to be upgraded to meet current code and extend the useful life of the facilities. If determined necessary after an assessment, the roofs will be repaired or replaced. In addition to replacing fixtures and improving aesthetics, modifications will be made to ensure each restroom complies with accessible building codes.
Restrooms are among the most used facilities in parks, but are also most impacted by deferred maintenance. As part of the Department’s effort to address its deferred maintenance, generate operational efficiencies, and Create A Remarkable Experience for its visitors, comprehensive renovations of restrooms will be a priority over the next five years.
Parks restroom before renovation
Parks restroom after renovation
Download an Excel file of all projects and Adopted and proposed budget information