Recreation center set to close in Foster City

During the closure, programs will be held at several different locations, including the Vibe Teen Center on Shell Boulevard, Community Center on Hillsdale Boulevard and multipurpose rooms throughout the school district. Modular buildings will also remain near the site for classes, Parks and Recreation Director Derek Schweigart said.

While many programs will continue to operate, ceramics classes and larger events may be affected, according to a November City Council meeting. Frequent visitors may experience logistical adjustments over the next couple years, but Schweigart said, based on community feedback, residents are in support of waiting for a new and improved facility.

“There’s obviously a lot of enthusiasm that the center itself is going to be iconic for this community. We don’t have a downtown in Foster City, but Leo J. Ryan Park is where people all come to congregate, and I think having this rec center with all the new amenities will draw people in and have them want to stay,” Schweigart said.

Conversations to get rid of the old center, built in 1974, ramped up around 2016, largely motivated by structural deficiencies, especially related to water leakage, as well as outdated emergency shelter accommodations. The anticipated cost to construct the brand-new building is estimated around $65 million, up from the original budget allocation of about $55 million. During a January meeting, councilmembers decided to scale down some of the original project plans, including bocce court expansion, and shift other revenue sources to make up the difference. The majority of the funds will come from the city’s Capital Asset Acquisition and Replacement Fund, as well as general fund reserves, according to the city.

But Mayor Patrick Sullivan said the closure and subsequent construction, tentatively anticipated to start in September, is predicated on the final contractor agreement and costs. 

“If the bid comes in way over budget, we may have to go back because we’ve got to find the money to make sure. We’re $10 million over budget, and we’ve found some money, but we don’t have the bids in yet,” he said. “I see no closure in August unless we have a bid.”

Despite the higher cost and extended closure, Schweigart said retaining integral services in the community are only becoming more critical.

“In community centers these days, you don’t go there just to pick a class and leave. Now, it’s a place where you go there, your kids do a class, you do a class, then you get a bite to eat. You meet up with neighbors or colleagues and things like that,” he said.

According to city officials, the center will close on Monday, Aug. 19, immediately following its annual Summer Days Festival. Schweigart said staff aims to break ground by this September, with completion slated for 2026.