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Since 2015, San Mateo County Parks has been working to “Reimagine Flood Park.” After 10 years, the first phase of this comprehensive renovation is complete, upgrading the 21-acre Flood Park with new infrastructure and redesigned amenities aimed at attracting visitors from throughout the region.
“As far as I know, this is the largest, most comprehensive renovation of an existing park in our system that we’ve undertaken,” said Nicholas Calderon, director of the San Mateo County Parks Department.
Phase 1, opening June 7, includes a new bike pump track, multi-use sports fields with artificial turf, basketball courts, tennis and pickleball courts, sand volleyball courts, walking paths and grilling areas. During the grand opening, the county will break ground on Phase 2, which involves constructing an expanded, nature-inspired playground. The playground is expected to open in March 2026.
“The new playground will encompass the old playground area and extend further, featuring natural elements like stone, rock and earth tones to complement the park’s natural character,” Calderon said. Community feedback significantly shaped the design, known as “Boulder Canyon,” using input gathered through surveys and outreach to local organizations like Casa Circulo Cultural.
Throughout the park, fallen trees have been repurposed into natural hardscape elements, offering visitors unique seating and play areas. These trees, many of which fell naturally during recent storms, have been preserved rather than removed. After the trees fell, park officials noticed kids climbing on them and decided to leave the trees.
“People have really fond memories of the shade of the oak trees. So you’ll see this throughout, we just kept the fallen trees in place. We’re gonna smooth some of the edges so it’s not quite a hazard,” Communications Manager Carla Schoof said.
“It elevates the natural esthetics of the park. It would have just been a shame to chip the trees. I think when you look around, it catches your eye and it’s really enhancing overall,” Calderon said.
To mitigate community concerns about noise and traffic, park officials adjusted designs to maintain buffers and restricted operating hours for certain facilities. Additionally, the county eliminated parking lot entrance fees to encourage on-site parking and reduce neighborhood impacts.
Calderon said that some residents who were initially concerned about the noise have been pleasantly surprised and are now excited about the project.
Traffic on U.S. 101 can be easily heard from Flood Park. However, Calderon feels that once the park is open, the noise will be drowned out by the sounds of families enjoying the facilities.
Officials are optimistic about usage based on early signs of popularity. “Word of mouth has already really elevated what Flood Park is,” Calderon said. He also highlighted the bike pump track’s regional appeal and the anticipation around the artificial turf fields, designed for year-round, high-volume use without downtime due to weather.
The bike pump track was designed to be intertwined with the already existing trees.
Despite challenges seen at other community facilities, like the underutilized Belle Haven Community Campus pool, county officials remain confident Flood Park will thrive. They track park usage through vehicle counts and pedestrian trail sensors and anticipate increased attendance once the playground and reservable picnic areas fully open.
Funding for the estimated $11.5 million Phase 1 project primarily came from Measure K, San Mateo County’s half-cent sales tax, supplemented by county general revenues and a $1.3 million grant from Santa Clara County through the Stanford general plan update.
“Measure K has been a game changer,” Calderon said, crediting county supervisors and the county executive for sustained financial commitment.
“I’m proud of how the parks department engaged the community to ‘Reimagine Flood Park’ into a space that really has something for everyone,” San Mateo County Executive Mike Callagy said. “This is a park with amenities that we can all be proud of. It is that type of park that we hope generates lots of great family memories and promotes a healthy outdoor lifestyle.”
Looking ahead, additional park features like an amphitheater and a baseball diamond are under consideration for future phases.
“We’re excited to get everything open,” Calderon said. “This is going to be one of the most unique parks in the area.”
