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San Mateo County Seal: Back to San Mateo Homepage
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Welcome to San Mateo County Department of Parks. We are here to provide you with recreational opportunities in a safe and effective manner, and to protect and enhance the natural resources of the County.

The Department operates 17 separate parks, three regional trails and numerous other county and local trails encompassing 15,680 acres. They are located throughout the County and represent a wide variety of natural settings including a coastside marine reserve, a bayside recreational area, coastal mountain woodland areas, and urban sites.
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Living with Mountain Lions
Living With Mountain Lions at San Pedro Valley Park
Mountain Lions have recently been sited at San Pedro Valley Park and the area. Expert, Zara McDonald will lead an educational discussion, "Living With Mountain Lions," on Wednesday, February 1st at the Pacifica Sharp Park Library. A second presentation is scheduled Saturday February 25th, 7:30 pm at the San Pedro Valley Park Visitors Center.
POST Pillar Point Bluff Dedicated
On August 9, Peninsula Open Space Trust transferred 140-acre Pillar Point Bluff near Moss Beach to San Mateo County. The county purchased the land for inclusion in the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve with a $3 million grant from the Wildlife Conservation Board. Read more at the POST web site. On December 21st, community partners and public agency funders joined the County in dedicating Pillar Point Bluff as part of the James V. Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. Read more about the dedication.
WW2 Memorial Refurbished Merchant Marine WWII Memorial Unveiled
On December 2nd San Mateo County unveiled a refurbished war memorial at Coyote Point Recreation Area commemorating the service of Merchant Marines during World War II. Learn More.
Joint meeting of the County's Environmental Quality Committee and Parks and Recreation Commission Status of San Mateo County Parks and its Strategic Plan
The Parks Division presented to a joint meeting of the County's Environmental Quality Committee and the Parks and Recreation Commission on November 8, 2012 outlining the status of County parks and its Strategic Plan. View a copy of the presentation.
Flood Park Reopening Flood Park Re-opened November 12th, 2011
Following a 13-month closure to repair and replace water supply pipelines, Flood County Park was re-opened on November 12 at noon with a ribbon cutting and a day of festivities. For more information see our press release and an FAQ regarding the re-opening.
Fitzgerald Marine Reserve Volunteer Needed Become a Volunteer Naturalist and Share the Wonders of the Tide Pools
We're looking for volunteer naturalists to share the beauty and science of Fitzgerald Marine Reserve with school groups and the general public. Saturday training classes are now scheduled. Read more.
survey County Parks seeks your input for Crystal Springs Trail!
As we continue to design and construct additional sections of Crystal Springs Regional Trail, it's important for us to gather information about trail use and trail user opinions. And as the trail system gets busier, it is important for us to get feedback from users about their experiences on the trail. Survey closed. Thank you for your participation. Read more about the Crystal Springs Regional Trail South of Highway 92 Project.
Bill and Jean Lane Education Center Bill and Jean Lane Education Center Opens
The center opened on April 5th at Edgewood Park. Jean Lane and County Supervisors Rose Jacobs Gibson and Adrienne Tissier were in attendance. The center will provide a year-round setting for educational and research activities and promote community involvement to preserve and restore Edgewood and its exceptional natural resources. Read more.
Folger Stable Folger Stable Earns Awards
Folger Stable at Wunderlich Park has recently won California Construction's "Best Renovation/Restoration Project in No. California in the Last 12 Months," and architect Adolph Rosekrans received the honor award from the American Institute of Architects, San Mateo County Chapter.
CuriOdyssey Coyote Point Museum is now CuriOdyssey
On January 15 Coyote Point Museum officially unveiled its new name, CuriOdyssey. The name change is a culmination of changes made over the past four years to revitalize visitor programs and hone the museum's mission. Learn more at CuriOdyssey.org.
Crystal Springs Projects SFPUC Projects at Crystal Springs
The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission will begin improvement projects at Crystal Springs Reservoir this fall. See the fact sheet about the Crystal Springs Dam Bridge project and other efforts.
news Coyote Point Recreation Area Opens To RV Camping
Visit http://reservations.eparks.net for RV camp site photos & info, pricing and availability. Be sure to enter RV Camping at Coyote Point as the "Use Type."
Green Crew Green Force Youth Crews
Hard-working high school-aged youth have been improving our parks. Read more.
Edgewood Hikes
Year-Round Docent Led Hikes at Edgewood Park and Natural Preserve
Join the Friends of Edgewood for docent led nature hikes on the third Saturday morning of each month throughout the year. The walks vary according to the docent and the current natural happenings in the Preserve. Walks are about 3 miles long, at a moderate pace and offer frequent stops. The walks usually end around 1 p.m.
Hikers should meet docents at the Bill and Jean Lane Education Center at 10 a.m. It is advisable to bring water and wear a hat, sturdy shoes, and sunscreen. Bring a snack if you wish as the group will not stop for lunch. Picnic tables are available in the Old Stage Day Camp area after the hike.
Reservations are not necessary unless you have a group of 10 or more. For group reservations, email: docent-coordinatorfriendsofedgewood.org. For a driving directions and a park map, visit www.smcoparks.org.
news Crystal Springs Dam Bridge Closure
The Crystal Springs Dam Bridge will be closed for four years beginning October 25th, 2010. North and southbound traffic on Skyline Boulevard, both automobile and bicycle, will be re-routed. Access from the south on Sawyer Camp Trail will be blocked and an alternate path identified. More info about the Dam Bridge Replacement Project at Department of Public Works. More info about the Dam Closure at SFPUC. See the detour map.
Closure at Memorial Park Closure at Memorial Park
Homestead Youth Camp Areas at Memorial Park are closed indefinitely.
Make a Reservation
Reserving a camp site, picnic site or other park facility on line is easy. Get Started.
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Parks Spotlight
We Want YOU!
Volunteers are making a huge difference in our county parks, and so can you. Our calendar is full of outdoor projects for people of all ages and abilities.
How Are We Doing?
Filling out our customer survey is a fast easy way to improve our county parks.
Annual Park Pass
A great gift for the outdoor enthusiast in your life, or for yourself.

 

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