Families heading to Central Park this summer will find fences where the playground used to be.
The city of San Mateo has closed the park's playground and picnic areas for an 18-to-24-month construction project that will reshape the play spaces at the 16.3-acre downtown park.
The latest change: as of July 2026, crews are expanding the construction staging-area fencing to include the lawn next to the Fallen Heroes Memorial for irrigation repairs and sod installation, according to the city's project page. Construction on the "Reimagined Central Park Playground" project began in June 2025.
When finished, the new playground will feature custom-designed play structures, rebuilt picnic areas, a prefabricated restroom building, new walkways, lighting, and seating.
What's still open
The Japanese Garden, Central Park Recreation Center, Central Rose Garden, and the Thursday-night Central Park Music Series all remain accessible during construction. The Japanese Garden, designed by landscape architect Nagao Sakurai of the Imperial Palace of Tokyo, is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Koi feedings happen at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays during spring and summer.
The Recreation Center at 50 E. 5th Ave. continues to offer morning aerobic classes and rentable event space. Phone: (650) 522-7434.
Where to play instead
The city's closure notice lists four nearby parks for families looking for playground access:
- Gateway Park — 800 E. 3rd Ave., 0.65 miles away
- Sunnybrae Park — 625 Folkstone Ave., 0.73 miles
- Borel Park — 425 Barneson Ave., 0.75 miles
- Martin Luther King Jr. Park — 725 Monte Diablo Ave., 0.9 miles
Project updates are posted at cityofsanmateo.org/4142/Central-Park-Playground-Renovation.
