January 2026 -  Installation of play equipment is currently underway. Installation of the new restroom facility is expected Spring 2026. The project is on schedule and on budget. 

November 2025 - Concrete work is in progress. The project is currently on schedule and on budget. 

September 2025 - Installation of new sewer line is complete ahead of schedule. Pre-fabricated restroom in progress. We anticipate the first delivery of custom play equipment in the coming months.

August 2025 - Demolition of all existing play equipment, restroom, path lights and walkways has been completed and all construction debris has been hauled off in compliance to the city’s construction and demolition recycling plan. Installation of new utility service (water and sewer) to new restroom location is also complete. 

June 2025 - Construction began June 2, starting with the installation of construction fencing for the project area. The playground area, restroom, and portion of the central lawn will remain closed during the construction phase (18 to 24 months).

April 2025 - City Council awarded a contract to 4LEAF, Inc. for construction management services during the April 21st regular meeting. Meeting materials can be retrieved from the public meeting portal. 

A ceremony was held in Central Park on Thursday, April 24, 2025, to mark the beginning of the playground’s construction phase. The construction phase is anticipated to begin in late Spring/Summer 2025 and is anticipated to take 18-24 months.

March 2025 - City Council adopted a resolution to accept a $10,000 donation from San Mateo City Parks and Recreation Foundation in honor of former Parks and Recreation Director, Sheila Canzian's retirement and awarded a construction contract to Suarez and Munoz Construction Inc. for the Central Park Playground Improvements Project. The construction phase is anticipated to begin in late Spring/Summer 2025. Construction is anticipated to take 18-24 months.

January 2025 - staff has been working with Suarez & Munoz Construction, Inc., to explore potential cost reductions and plans to present a contract for City Council approval at the March 3, 2025 meeting. Meeting materials can be retrieved from the public meeting portal. 

October 2024 - At the October 7 City Council meeting, all bids for the Central Park Phase 1 Playground Improvements Project were rejected. Staff will initiate negotiations with the lowest bidder, Suarez & Munoz Construction, Inc., to explore potential cost reductions. Should these negotiations prove successful, staff will present a contract with Suarez & Munoz Construction, Inc. for City Council approval at a future meeting. 

July 2024 - The project bid phase started on schedule, July 8, 2024, and is scheduled to end early September 2024. It is anticipated that the construction phase will start in Winter 2024.  

June 2024 - The Community Development Department is currently reviewing the project for a construction permit. Once the construction permit is issued, the project will be put out to bid. It is anticipated that the bid phase will begin in Summer 2024. 

October 2023 - The construction documents are 100% complete and have been submitted to the building department for permitting. The construction phase is scheduled to start Spring 2024.

June 2023 - We are now at 95% construction documents and are on track to break ground in spring 2024.

March 2023 - Design Development is complete and we are now at 75% construction documents. It is estimated that we could possibly break ground in late 2023 / early 2024.

August 2022 - With the Design Development drawings on hand, we are now ready to get an updated cost estimate and move on to  construction drawings. The construction drawings should be ready early in the new year (2023).

March 2022 - A design development update was presented to the Park and Recreation Commission Meeting including design images for the new bathrooms and picnic shelter buildings.

View the March 2, 2022 Park and Recreation Commission meeting recording and related documents.

September 2021 – With the community outreach process completed, the City of San Mateo is excited to announce that a design concept has been chosen.

Our initial outreach efforts informed us that the top responses for how the community would like the playground to feel were safe and fun, with the highest-ranking priorities listed as imaginative, inclusive and natural. 

The results for the favorite play elements were swings, slides and climbing features with a desire to see additional shade, seating areas and water elements and many participants commented on the need for an inclusive playground that could be used by children of all ages and abilities as well as one that was enclosed for increased safety.

Based on the feedback collected from these efforts and after presenting the different designs, the overwhelming majority of children and adults preferred the Adventure Village concept. 

The natural character of Adventure Village fits well within the majestic tree canopy of the playground while the magical forest inspired creative and imaginative play.  

Utilizing the collective input from our various public outreach events, a single Adventure Village Concept is now being presented in the design development stage. It is worth noting that in addition to the renovated playground, the plan includes a new restroom building, located adjacent to the main pathway that will serve both the playground area as well as the future tennis courts that will be located across the path as well as a new picnic shelter with BBQ’s.

Public Outreach

• Video - June 3, 2021 Public Workshop (Central Park Playground Renovation Project)
• Presentation - Community Workshop No. 2: City of San Mateo Central Park Playground Improvements - Playground Design Options
• March 2, 2022 Park and Recreation Commission meeting recording and related documents.
• For all other presentation to City Council and/or Commissions please visit the Public Meeting Portal