Public input needed for redesign of Central Park

“I think this is a once in a life time opportunity to really create an even better Central Park than what we currently have,” said Parks and Recreation Director Sheila Canzian. “So I think we are really excited about continuing to get comments and feedback from the public so we can move forward.”

The Recreation Center, Enhanced Open Space and Community Gathering options were created after more than a year of community outreach and will be narrowed down with the help of more public input.

While each map has a different focus, Canzian said the ultimate plan is anticipated to draw from all three.

“It’s highly likely that it will not be one of these current options being shown; it will be — ‘I like this from over here, and that from over there’ — and that’s why this phase is so important to us,” Canzian said.

All of the proposals include removing the current recreation center, redesigning the playground while expanding the children’s train, adjusting the bleachers at the ball field and relocating the tennis courts to another park.

Each plan maintains the park’s historic attributes such as the Japanese Tea Garden and Kohl Pumphouse.

The plans were revealed during two workshops earlier this month and are available for review and comment on the city’s Town Hall website.

Keeping a place to recreate

The Recreation Center concept is the only one that maintains a center at the park and focuses on creating an enlarged, 20,000-square-foot, two-story building pulled toward Fifth Avenue with underground parking.

The current outdated recreation center would be covered with open space and picnic tables.

The design proposes keeping the ball field but downsizing while enhancing the grandstand with a storefront facade along Fifth Avenue behind home plate. The underside of this corner portion of the bleachers would be turned into small rooms, such as art studios, that would be accessible to the community.

A public plaza is proposed next to the new recreation center along Fifth Avenue and a new all-hours fenced-in dog park would be constructed along Laurel Avenue near the Japanese Tea Garden.

Promoting a sense of openness

The Enhanced Open Space Option outlines replacing the current recreation center with an expanded lawn facing a bandshell near the center of the park. A large plaza used to host events, street vendors, permanent kiosks and festivals is proposed atop an expanded underground parking garage on Fifth Avenue.

The Central Park Plaza would also be home to a focal point, such as a fountain, flagpole or statue where South San Mateo Drive intersects Fifth Avenue.

The current ball field bleachers would be removed and replaced with low-profile seating, picnic tables and trees along Fifth Avenue. The fenced in field would continue to function as a part-time morning dog park.

Where people gather

The Community Gathering Option would do away with the ball field, instead creating a large lawn available for various uses. The current recreation center would be replaced with a picnic and event pavilion.

The most notable feature of this design is a large event plaza at the junction of Fifth Avenue and San Mateo Drive.

The paved area could host festivals, farmers’ markets, vendors, kiosks while notably marked by a focal point such as a fountain or flagpole. The current landscape architecture office would be enlarged to allow for community uses while the parking garage would be expanded underneath the plaza.

The three designs are the result of objectives and concepts outlined during public outreach activities and a joint City Council and Parks and Recreation Commission meeting.

The objectives include maintaining open space, preserving the historic character of the park, creating a more open feel along Fifth Avenue while strengthening the connection to downtown. City officials also seek to enhance pedestrian and bicycle access while creating a park that is usable across multiple generations and demographics.

Canzian encouraged the public to review and comment on the three conceptual designs online. Depending on the response, the city may hold more workshops before going before the Public Works and Planning commissions for input.

Eventually, the proposals will go before a joint City Council and Parks and Recreation Commission meeting for direction.

While finalizing the master plan is an important step to guiding future improvements, the city doesn’t currently have funds set aside for specific projects, Canzian said.

To review the three conceptual design alternatives for the San Mateo Central Park Master Plan Update go to www.cityofsanmateo.org/centralpark or on the San Mateo Town Hall site at www.SanMateoTownHall.org.

samantha@smdailyjournal.com

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