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There’s something for everyone who wants to get outdoors this summer in Silicon Valley.
If you’re a bookworm, you’ll find silent reading clubs in county parks. If you’re obsessed with your fur baby, there’s a new dog park in South San Francisco.
Of course, there are also annual community summer gatherings planned by cities. Nearly every city on the Midpeninsula is hosting an outdoor summer concert series and movie nights.
Find out more in The Six Fifty’s summer outdoor news roundup below.
Openings
Lakewood Park playground, Sunnyvale
The city of Sunnyvale is hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new playground at Lakewood Park (834 Lakechime Drive) at 10 a.m. on July 29. The all-inclusive playground is officially open and also includes a new tot lot and new exercise equipment.
Visitors should stick to open areas as the rest of the park continues to undergo work. Street parking is available on Lakechime and Silverlake drives.
Dundee Park, South San Francisco
On June 3, the city of South San Francisco held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of improvements to Dundee Park in the West Winston Manor neighborhood.
The park features play structures, a green area, tables, basketball hoops and more.
For more information, go to ssfca.gov/News/Dundee-and-WB-Childcare.
Gellert Park dog park, Daly City
Daly City celebrated the opening of Gellert Park Dog Park at 50 Wembley Drive on May 28.
The park, next to the main branch of the Serramonte Library, is fenced in and includes grass for pet zoomies.
Sunnyvale Community Center grounds, Sunnyvale
On May 21, the city of Sunnyvale held a grand reopening of the Community Center grounds after a $14 million renovation.
According to the city, new features at the 2-acre park include a new playground and picnic areas; a game area with ping-pong and cornhole; an amphitheater-style seating area; a redesigned pond and fountain; renovated walking paths and a mountain biking trail; a new bathroom; public Wi-Fi; water-saving irrigation; and recycled plastic park furniture.
For more information, go to the city’s website.
Ongoing park construction and planning
Flood Park playground opening delayed, Menlo Park
The opening of a new inclusive playground in Flood Park is delayed until fall because of modifications to the playground made in response to safety reviews, according to a press release. San Mateo County expected the playground to open this spring originally.
In 2025 new sports courts, including sand volleyball, basketball, and tennis and pickleball courts opened, as did the bike pump track and revamped picnic areas.
For more information, go to smcgov.org/parks/news/flood-parks-new-inclusive-playground-opening-delayed-fall-2026.
Concept chosen for new Coyote Point playground, San Mateo
San Mateo County is moving forward with plans to bring in a new $3.8 million playground to replace the Magic Mountain playground in Coyote Point Recreation Area. It is working to finalize a design for the project, according to a press release.
After surveying 840 people via online and paper surveys, 78% picked the “Magical Adventure in a Seaside Land” concept. This plan includes a sea-themed landscape and a 50-foot zipline for visitors of all abilities.
The county plans to close Magic Mountain and the surrounding area Aug. 14 to begin construction. The new playground is expected to open in March 2027.
Construction continues on Central Park playground, San Mateo
Work continues on the refresh of San Mateo’s Central Park playground.
Starting this month, the construction staging area fencing will be expanded to include the lawn area next to the Fallen Heroes Memorial, according to the city website. There will be repairs to the irrigation system, and sod will be laid.
The new play area will feature custom-designed play structures, picnic areas and a prefabricated restroom building, plus improvements like new walkways, lighting and seating. Construction first began in June 2025 and is expected to take 18-24 months.
Outdoor events
Shakespeare in the Park, Redwood City and Cupertino
Get some sunshine and Shakespeare during performances of “Antony and Cleopatra” Saturdays and Sundays starting Aug. 15 in Redwood City.
The performances, put on by the San Francisco Shakespeare Company, also take place in Cupertino starting July 25.
Weekends July 25-Aug. 9, 6-8:30 p.m., Memorial Park Amphitheater, 21163 Anton Way, Cupertino. Free. cupertino.gov/Parks-Recreation/Events/Free-Shakespeare-in-the-Park-Event. Weekends Aug. 15-30, 6-7:30 p.m. at Red Morton Park (Valota Road side), 1455 Madison Ave., Redwood City. Free. redwoodcity.org/residents/redwood-city-events/stage/shakespeare-in-the-park.
Mobile Rec, Redwood City
Children 6 and older can try a 26-foot mobile climbing wall, a mobile skate park, slacklines, disc golf, a blender bike and more in Redwood City on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, according to the city website.
Mobile Rec aims to expose youth to nontraditional recreation activities for free that they may not otherwise have the chance to experience.
Mobile Rec rotates between different parks. Go to redwoodcity.org/departments/parks-recreation-and-community-services/mobile-rec for upcoming dates and times.
Outdoor silent book club, Brisbane and Pacifica
Bring or choose a book or audiobook and read quietly alongside others in two county parks — San Bruno Mountain Park and San Pedro Valley County Park. There will be snacks and drinks. The book club at San Pedro Valley County Park is an audiobook silent book club; bring an audiobook and headphones.
Look for signs when you enter and park. Register for free parking here.
Upcoming events are July 25 and Aug. 29. The book club meets one Saturday a month from 10 a.m. to noon (through Sept. 26 in Pacifica and through Oct. 24 in Brisbane). For more information, visit peninsulabooks.org/event/silent-book-club-in-the-parks.
Music and entertainment, various locations
Burlingame will host its free annual Music in the Park series in Washington Park on select Friday nights during the summer. Fast Times will perform July 10. Be aware that parking is limited near the park during the event. Beer and wine is for sale.
The city’s musical performances are being held in its new outdoor town square in downtown Burlingame, including a July 11 event, which will include music from Business Casual and a balloon artist.
The Central Park Music Series in San Mateo runs Thursday nights from June to August and includes food vendors.
San Carlos hosts its Music in the Park series on Friday nights in Burton Park. It runs through Aug. 28.
Foster City’s summer concert series kicks off July 10 at Leo J. Ryan Park with Pop Fiction. It runs through Aug. 14. Parking is limited due to ongoing construction of the city’s recreation center. Additional spaces will be available at the library, City Hall, the Century lot at 1065 E. Hillsdale Blvd. and the Parkside Tower lot at 1031 E. Hillsdale Blvd.
Go to the Port of Redwood City for live music, dancing and food Saturday afternoons through November for the Rock the Dock concert series.
Attend Coyote Point Summerfest at Coyote Point Recreation Area in San Mateo on Aug. 15. It includes giant kites from the Kite Man of Martinez, drumming from Tatsumaki Taiko, train rides, dancing with Ballet Folklórico Casa, food trucks, culture and art activities with Círculo Cultural and more.
The event is free but there is a $6 parking fee. No registration is required.
Outdoor movie nights, various locations
Cities throughout the Peninsula are hosting family-friendly outdoor movie screenings over the summer, from family movie nights in Mitchell Park in Palo Alto to movie nights on Thursdays through Sept. 3 at Courthouse Square in Redwood City.
More information can be found at tinyurl.com/outdoormovienightsguide.
Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District activities, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties
Midpen is hosting an array of outdoor events — from an 8-mile bike ride in Monte Bello Preserve in Los Altos in which attendees will learn about how tectonic forces have shaped the landscapes and soils on July 11 to a night hike at Russian Ridge Preserve July 28.
View a full list of events at openspace.org/get-involved/events-activities.
Monday walks with Village of the Coastside, Pacifica
Village of the Coastside hosts gentle weekly walks. The next takes place on July 13 at 11 a.m. at San Pedro Valley Park.
More information can be found at villageofthecoastside.org.
Plankton exploration, Moss Beach
Explore plankton — from candy-striped worms to skeleton shrimp — collected in Pillar Point Harbor up close with Friends of Fitzgerald volunteer naturalists July 25 at 11 a.m.
Attendees will learn about the organisms’ role in the health of marine ecosystems.
For more details, go to smcgov.org/parks/exploring-plankton-friends-fitzgerald-marine-reserve.
PV Palooza, Portola Valley
The PV Palooza Foundation will host its free fifth annual music festival, PV Palooza, Aug. 29 from 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Portola Valley Town Center. There will be 20 local bands and four stages, according to the event website.
Visit pvpalooza.com for more information.
Trail closures
Edgewood Park trail closures, Redwood City
Old Stage Road in Edgewood County Park has been closed since June 22 between the Education Center and its intersection with Franciscan Trail as crews create a 7-acre shaded fuel break to mitigate wildfire risk. The work will also help improve ingress and egress for emergency vehicles along the fire road, according to San Mateo County. The closure is expected to continue through Friday, July 10.
Through September, the Ridgeview Trail will be closed between trail markers 13 and 15 while Pacific Gas and Electric Company upgrades a natural gas pipeline.
Find out more at smcgov.org/parks/news/edgewood-park-trail-closures.
