Board approves Coyote Point playground design-build contract with community input plan

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a design-build agreement to replace the Magic Mountain playground at Coyote Point, a high-use regional park. Interim Parks Director Emma Gonzalez told the board the project is funded by a mix of Measure K and federal dollars and will deliver an inclusive, seaside-themed playground with roughly 25–30 play features, improved access, seating, shade, and sensory elements.

"This reflects how Measure K combined with federal funding allows us to deliver a safe, inclusive, and high-quality recreational space for our community," Gonzalez said, summarizing project goals, planned outreach and timelines. She said staff had already incorporated input from more than 450 community members and will present two final design concepts this spring. Gonzalez described a target completion by the end of the year, weather and permits permitting.

Construction will require a planned closure of the Magic Mountain playground and affect about 66 parking stalls; the majority of the park will remain open with more than 900 parking stalls available during construction, Gonzalez said. The county plans alternative activities during construction, including a temporary pump track near the marina and a simple disc-golf-style course.

Supervisors praised the proposal as long-needed upkeep for a heavily visited park. Supervisor Spear called the park "the most used" in the system and said the replacement had been needed for a long time. Public commenters from the Midcoast expressed support for more local park investment but urged attention to Midcoast park needs and asked staff to consider trust accounts and development fees for local facilities.

Board members asked design-specific questions — including materials and safety surfacing — and Gonzalez said both final concepts will include soft foam surfacing and artificial turf inside the fenced playground area for safety and accessibility. The project will use a design-build approach to compress schedule, improve coordination and reduce cost uncertainty, Gonzalez said.

The board approved the agreement by roll-call vote. Staff will return with community engagement outputs, final design selection and project notices to minimize disruption during construction.

The county’s project page and multilingual outreach will provide regular updates to visitors and provide avenues to weigh in on the two draft concepts.