San Mateo Central Park

Rich History

San Mateo Central Park is a 16.5-acre urban park located in downtown San Mateo, California. Established in 1922, it was the first public park in San Mateo County. The park was created when the city purchased the former estate of William Kohl, a sea captain and founding partner of the Alaska Commercial Company.

The park's history dates back to the mid-19th century when the land was originally owned by Charles B. Polhemus, director of the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad. In 1874, Captain William Kohl acquired 16 acres of this land and developed it into an estate with exotic trees, an orchard, vineyard, and pathways.

After the last Kohl heir died in 1921, the City of San Mateo voted to acquire the estate for a public park.

Historic Features

Central Park retains much of its original landscape design, including winding paths and many of the trees planted during Kohl's time. A 900-foot stone and wrought-iron fence along El Camino Real, dating back to Kohl's ownership, still borders the park.

The only remaining structure from the Kohl era is the pumphouse, which now serves as the headquarters for the San Mateo Arboretum Society.

Japanese Garden

One of the park's notable features is the Japanese Garden, designed by landscape architect Nagao Sakurai of the Imperial Palace of Tokyo. This garden includes a granite pagoda, tea house, koi pond, and bamboo grove.

It is particularly beautiful in late winter and early spring when the cherry blossoms are in bloom.

Community Events and Facilities

The park hosts numerous community events throughout the year, including the Central Park Music Series, 4th of July celebrations, and the spring Eggstravaganza. It also houses a recreation center that offers aerobic classes and rentable space for various functions.

Future Plans

In recent years, plans have been developed to update and improve the park. A new Master Plan, approved in 2018, includes renovations to the playground, installation of a Fallen Heroes Memorial, and future plans to relocate the tennis courts and build a new community center.