San Mateo staff seek $5 million for FY26 parks capital plan; Central Park, East Hillsdale projects highlighted

SAN MATEO, Calif. — At a March 5 Parks & Recreation Commission meeting, city staff presented a proposed five-year (FY26–30) parks capital improvement plan and asked commissioners to review and comment on a FY26 funding request of $5,000,000.

The proposal, presented by Parks & Recreation staff member Suzanne, laid out projected revenue from development-related in-lieu fees and other sources, a request to the Measure S fund and a set of prioritized projects including the Central Park playground renovation, East Hillsdale (Hidden Park) work, synthetic turf replacement, and assessments for childcare facilities and overall park amenities. "Swimming pools. Our swimming pools are a priority. Our Central Park is a priority. Our East Hillsdale Park is a priority," Suzanne told commissioners.

Why this matters: the commission's comments will inform a package the city bundles with other departments for City Council preview in April and final approval (if adopted) in June 2025. The CIP would determine the use of developer in-lieu fees, Measure S allocations and other city funding for projects that shape neighborhood recreation access and citywide park maintenance.

Key funding and projects

Staff said their conservative revenue forecast averages about $4.5 million per year from in-lieu fees (used to estimate available funds for projects) and that projection produced roughly $15 million across five years for parks. In addition to those fees, the presentation identified a request of $1.6 million from Measure S for parks work. For FY26 specifically, staff proposed allocating $5,000,000 across projects and funding sources.

Suzanne told the commission that Central Park already holds the largest single allocation in the parks fund — roughly $13 million — and that…