Stopped by Central Park to have lunch with some friends yesterday. It's a really nice park that's family friendly and perfect for kids. They have paved paths for walking, a Japanese garden and rose garden, tennis courts, restrooms, and a jungle gym for kids. While I was there yesterday, the park was bustling since there was an event going on near the Japanese garden. If you go on Saturday, I believe 12-3pm, they have a plant sale. If you're planning to eat lunch like me and my friends, there are lots of benches and picnic tables, or you can even eat on the lawn. There are several metered parking spots on the street or you can park in one of their paid parking garages. If you don't want to pay for parking, there is free street parking farther out. read more

A peaceful and beautiful park with a free Japanese garden you can visit and a rose garden. Parking is good because they have a garage and you can pay on an app. Park also has a plant shop that is open on weekends. read more

Centrally located as the name would suggest, Central Park is just blocks away from downtown San Mateo and offers a surprising amount of amenities and a little bit of everything from everyone. The park is well maintained and safe. While parking right next to the park is metered, just a block out it's free for the first few hours. It's relatively large and spacious, with a variety of zones. It's 16.3 acres were actually a Kohl Mansion property purchased by the city over a century ago. In addition to just the vast walking space and grassy areas, there are different fields for various activities and games. And when you are doing with that, downtown is a few blocks away and you can grab a quick bite or a drink. Overall, the park is great for both humans and our furry friends to enjoy. read more

I just want to show my appreciation for the wonderful people who maintain the Rose Garden. The palette of colours on display here is dizzying. The overall effect is a beautiful marriage of tradition - the rose is brimming in historic symbolism - and modernity - look at those colours! read more

Central Park - Rose - Parks Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

The Park Side 16.3-acre park that used to house a the Kohl Mansion before the City of SM purchased it back in 1922. It's a nice city park with lots of amenities that we decided to check out one day. The Good: *Japanese Garden located within. *Tennis Courts & Baseball Diamond *Reservable and non-reservable picnic areas *Rose Garden that you can rent for a wedding. *Several interesting animal sculptures including Leon the Giraffe :) *Centrally located to DTSM so there's plenty of restaurants within walking distance. *On weekends you can purchase plants from the San Mateo Arboretum Society (11 a.m. - 3 p.m.) *Several public restrooms The Meh: *If you visit M-Sat you'll have to pay (75¢/hr w/ no max) for parking at the parking garage but it's free on Sundays and after 6 p.m. Street parking will run you $1/hr w/ a 3hr max *They claim there's a train but couldn't/didn't see any evidence of it. :( The Ugly: *Surprisingly low amount of Local Outdoor Enthusiasts™ (I only saw one) patrolling the park, but there was a table of the local borrachos sippin' on some recently decanted Tecate®. Tldr: Great park with a good location but be prepared to pony-up some dough for parking. read more

See all

This is a very nice park that is well maintained and has a lot to offer. It covers about 16 acres. There is a metered parking garage (132 spots) and tons of metered street parking available. They are reasonably priced costing $1/hour. You will find 6 awesome tennis courts. They are lighted and happen to be some of the best I have seen in a park. The park has a very nice (looking and smelling) rose garden. It is touted as a beautiful wedding spot (you have to complete an application to do so). They have a gazebo and quite a few benches there to sit and enjoy the area. It is a very picturesque area. And please do not take any of the roses. The park is home to a beautiful, but small Japanese Garden and a recreation center that hosts fitness classes and has event space available to rent. The park's playground could use a little updating. is ok. It has some very old equipment including older style swings, monkey bars, a geo dome, and a jungle gym with slide that has seen better days. The jungle gym is however, accessible, so all kids can play on it. The playground floor is lined with sand (yuck) and wood chips. There are a few benches and picnic tables around the play area. The park has nice paved paths for walking. It could probably be used for jogging too, but it is kinda of small and I did not see any joggers while I was there. You will find a huge grass area in the center of the park where people were having picnics, and playing catch. There are benches on the perimeter of the area looking in its direction. I would like the mention that the park has a crow problem, especially in this area. They were pretty bad and hung out in the field and the adjacent trees by the playground area. There is a bathroom facility right behind the palyground area. Not the cleanest, but it will get the job done if you really got to go. Another of the park's amenities is it picnic table areas. The park has a few picnic table areas available for rent. There is one are where you can just drop in. It was a nice day so, I sat at the large picnic area and ate my lunch. Some of the areas have neat oven looking grills, while I did not see any covered shelters. All the tables that I saw were out in the open. This is a nice old park that I thoroughly enjoyed. I spent a couple of hours here and could have did more. It did not heart that I came on a nice day. The park has been known to hosts events such as he Central Park Music Series, 4th of July in the Park, and Extravaganza. In the summer they have a mini train that runs through the park. They are constantly updating it. They just recently finished renovating the parking garage and tennis courts. Hopefully the playground will soon follow. This place is for you if you are lookin for a nice chill spot and is one of the area's better parks. It is definitely worth a visit. read more

This is a great park in a great location!! Central Park is located in Downtown San Mateo, and this whole area from the park to downtown is flat and walkable, which is the best way to enjoy everything here!! This park feels bigger than it is to me!! It has a playground, a Japanese Garden, a baseball field, tennis courts, picnic areas, a rose garden, a small train (which was inoperable when I was there), along with some animal sculptures - The Shaggy Dog Statue, Leon (the giraffe) and some bears. I'll be chillin at this park whenever I am in San Mateo, cause the vibe here is just that, chill!!! read more

See all

For a relatively "neighborhood" or "city" park, this "Central Park" has earned its name. Without looking like much around the perimeter (as we drove the entire perimeter looking for parking), this turned out to be an impressive park. Created nearly a century ago (1922), some parts have a rough-around-the edges look while others are clearly well maintained despite of age. Overall, it's worth visiting and certainly a good place to be for locals. Some of the Amenities and "finds": - Sizeable play set areas for the kiddos. Note that the ground is sand, so put on appropriate shoes for the kiddos if you want to minimize sand in the car. Nearby, there are benches with mature trees providing shade for the parental units to chill and keep and eye on their kids. - At least 3 picnic areas. They are meant to be reserve-able, but the reservation must be using a San Mateo address. - A rose garden with a cute gazebo. There are also huge hydrangea bushes nearby. - A fantastic little Japanese garden with a big pond, well stocked with koi, a little bridge, and a couple of pagodas. This was the most crowded area in the entire park. Be aware if you have COVID concerns. - Just outside the Japanese garden are some beautiful and unique flowers. Time of year dependent. See photos. - Several sport courts - tennis, a small baseball stadium, etc. Some of the outside adjacent surroundings have been built up such that unlike the NYC Central Park, it's not as obvious to see there's a park. We circled a bit, going into the side streets before finding parking. read more

See all

I actually love Central Park, but the situation with people on motorized bikes speeding around the paths at 15+ miles per hour has become ridiculous over the past couple of years. A few days ago I was walking with my elderly father along the path by the Japanese garden, when a teenager on a giant motorized bike sped around the corner and headed directly at us. I had to step in front of my father and push him to the edge of the path, or he would've been hit by the biker. The city really needs to do something to force people to walk their bikes, like installing periodic speed bumps as well as some barriers. Frankly, police ticketing would help too. The city has let the situation become far too dangerous for pedestrians, and it's only a matter of time before one of our seniors or a young child gets hit and killed by a speeding biker. read more

A 16.3 acre park in downtown San Mateo! Kudos to the city for realizing this vision in 1922! We met friends for a picnic there and sat under a large tree close to the playground. Restrooms were nearby. Street parking was available but we chose to park in their underground garage for free as we were there on a Sunday. There were a lot of people there but it still felt really comfortable regarding personal space. Take a look at all that is offered there: https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/3319/Central-Park-Japanese-Garden I love parks and appreciate the thought that goes behind them when they are created. read more

Really pretty park, great to come to for a nice stroll or to let the kids run around the playground. There is a Japanese garden located on site that is very serene and with koi fish swimming around in the pool. It's a bummer that they closed down the train here though - that was a nice attraction they had and I hope they bring it back. read more

i am so happy i came here to walk around while playing pokemon :p i love this park! large, very clean park! i went on a saturday so there was a lot of people like lots of bbq, birthday parties BUT i didn't think it was crowded at all! so much space to walk around and even take pictures of the beautiful flowers! this park has different sections: rose garden, japanese tea garden (closes at 4pm) , fairy garden (it was close though when i was there), bbq area, lots of picnic tables. tbh, there was a lot of people here but i never have any trouble of finding a bench to sit on. i love this park!!! they even have a little train rides for the kiddies. dogs are allowed :) which is a plus! i will love to bring my dog here. they also have different flowers that ive never seen before! so pretty. i thought i was looking at mini lanterns but it was flowers that looked like lanterns. so pretty!! i will def come back here. and it's sooo close to downtown san mateo with lots of yummy restaurants! i was able to find parking just fine. read more

See all

So: which matters more? The journey; or the ultimate destination? Typically I chose the destination, but I put a lot of time into mapping out an awesome entry route along the way. Why stick to major and often traffic clogged highways when obscure backroads are a ton more fun? San Mateo city has a pretty impressive Central Park by mid-peninsula standards. Which is to say, this ain't Golden Gate Park of the Big Apple, but when it comes to lovely shaded trees, tai chi friendly locations, blooming rose gardens (in season, naturally), ball fields, playgrounds, promenades, dog walking routes, picnic tables, and pretty great cell phone reception, well it really adds up around here. Personally, though, this park exists in my mind for one reason and one reason only: it's a pretty path to MY ultimate destination whenever I have an hour to spare in downtown San Mateo. The Japanese Garden. Opens at 10 am weekdays and 11 am weekends. That place is an oasis and possesses an intimacy, delicacy, and quiet unassuming grandeur that draws me in like an all powerful electromagnetic field that is as strong as it is undeniable. So, the baby sitters, dog walkers, tai chi masters, joggers, promenading couples, smart phone addicts, picnickers, gardeners, ball players, and other visitors can have Central Park. Me? I'm just passing by. It's the journey, not the destination for me. Because the Japanese Garden: it beckons. read more

Central Park - Morning tai chi is the order of the day at the San Mateo Central Park. - Parks Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

Nice park in downtown San Mateo. If actually feels safe! It's located in the middle of the city so you feel like you're away from everything, but still large and has a playground for the kids. A nice little park that's perfect for a brief respite from the real world. read more

Nice little Park in the middle of San Mateo. A green Oasis that is a great playground for kids and nice area for adults to walk around enjoy the greenery and relax on the bench. Japanese garden is right here - another area to relax. San Mateo downtown is right next door where you can have a nice meal or shop. Highly recommend for a weekend activity. read more

I stumbled upon this park when I was visiting the Japanese gardens and it definitely gave me NYC vibes. I wish I had taken more photos of the park but it was huge and had lots of space for people to sit on benches and the grass. There is a lot of shade too! I saw that there is a nursery that is open fridays and saturdays so I bet the park gets busy on weekends in addition to people walking/sitting. The rose garden was also super pretty! I love that there is this beautiful public space for people to visit, be active, and share memories. read more

See all

We enjoyed stopping by here to visit the Japanese garden. Although the Japanese garden is small, it is extremely well maintained and in terms of East Asian geomancy (fengshui), the arrangement allows great channeling of energy for visitors. The animals here genuinely seem happy. Koi are very friendly and always greeting visitors, and the turtles seem to enjoy basking in the sun. You will also enjoy the birds that visit as well. Do not miss the beautiful Japanese maple(s). Excellent place for a slow stroll, a date, or for a family walk. The explanations are wonderful, with both English and Japanese (with beautiful standard Kanji). If you're a student of Japanese language or a native Japanese speaker, you will appreciate the simplicity and beauty of the Japanese descriptions. read more

See all

This is a great park for walking around in. there is a large rose garden with a gazebo as well as many hydrangea plants. The gazebo helps make it very picturesque. It is quite beautiful when the weather is overcast because you can appreciate the colors of the plants. There is a statue of a dog which is very nice. The garden is a nice calm place to stroll. There are some picnic tables at the entrance for a convenient place to eat a casual lunch. There are some interesting old buildings there too. There is some other interesting art and some educational plaques there as well, including one about the wildlife in the park. read more

See all

Central Park is beautiful and well designed. There are lots of trees, grass is well maintained, a playground, tennis courts, plenty of benches, Japanese garden, rose garden, gazebo, bathroom and lots of parking (underground and street). The park is clean. When we were there we saw an art show happening and plant sale. We would definitely be back for another park day :) read more

One of my favorite local parks in the area. They have plenty of parking and a lot of things to do here. My son loves checking out the Japanese Garden and looking at the koi fish in the pond. They also have a nice playground for the kids to play and lots of grass area to relax and have a picnic. read more

My best friend and I were getting coffee from Philz and on the whim decided it might be more pleasant to take the coffee elsewhere. The quick search online revealed San Mateo central park and we decided to go there. There was ample parking at all of the houses around the park for such interesting architecture that we almost didn't feel the need to go into the park! Luckily we did and we happened upon was a beautiful quaint little park in the middle of San Mateo that you wouldn't even really know about unless you were local. I'm not in my friend who is living in San Mateo for almost a year didn't know about it either! Immediately you're greeted by a small Greenfield and a dog statue that if you read some of the signs is actually historic and I think imported from Italy or some other country by the family that used to own the park. This entire park actually used to be the backyard of one family. After that he will find a small rose garden and gazebo that are just so beautiful. There's also an arboretum which we were intrigued but was closed. There's a plant garden in there and they actually do occasional classes which was really neat. There also is a beautiful fountain inside the Arboretum which goes off at about 1230 or 12 PM. In any case we happened upon one of the volunteers who helped take care of the park named Ed shared all of this history and information with us. Such a nice person and we learned so much! Will definitely come back! read more

See all

Have been there twice, once at night with autumn cool, once at mid-day with warm winter sunshine. Both were memorable and pleasant memory. The central lawn is the place to go. Japanese Garden is almost not worth the short walk to get there. Whether in midnight with not another soul around, or in the warmest early afternoon with a mixture of people at all ages, the park is always a gem in the hustling San Mateo read more

It's a quite lovely park located in downtown San Mateo nearby the shops & eateries. After work one day last week, I had lunch with my coworker here. We picked up our food from the Japanese place next door to Suruki Market. Then walked over to this park which was about two blocks away, I think. There's a playground area with benches/picnic tables and a pretty cute Japanese garden. It's free to go in & hangout, but can't bring food/drinks inside. But it's definitely a treat to just enjoy the scenery. :) read more

Very nice park located in downtown San Mateo. They have a Japanese Garden and a rose garden with the most beautiful roses that I have seen. It's a nice park for a relaxing stroll and it's very well maintained read more

After spending the morning at the farmers market we went around the corner for lunch before coming here and playing. It was nice to have such a large park to run around. What ruined the day was a family where the youngest child began pushing others around. Both of the parents seen it be didn't do anything about it. The sibling were the only ones that knew it was a problem, at least the whole family isn't screwed up. read more

See all

What a beautiful and serene oasis. Flowers, a Japanese tea garden, a baseball field, a playground, a train ride for the kiddies, statues of a dog and a giraffe, the attractions go on and on. It's located adjacent to San Mateo's awesome downtown and is a great place to spend an hour or so in peaceful enjoyment of so many things. read more

See all

PARK WITH TRANQUILITY... Who would've thought a city park could offer so much. What I enjoy most about Central Park is this quick hideaway of ZEN with its dedicated oasis nestled in the middle of the park - the Japanese Garden. I don't think I have been to any city park where they offer this kind of getaway with the exception of San Francisco Golden Gate Park with their Japanese Tea Garden! There are also several trees here rooted for more than 100 years ago. An example was that awesome live Oak Tree that have been here for ages too and clearly "marked" historical. You can feel that great energy whenever you pass through them. They give you that grounded feeling. I think it is necessary to rejuvenate to stop for a moment and pay very good attention to your own energies. Inside the Japanese Garden - they have a collection of kois. When I was there with my Dad for Father's Day - we noticed they were spawning! Lots of baby kois were also on the other side where they were kept separated. The design of the pond is very soothing - again very ZEN like. They have a nice traditional Japanese bridge where in the middle you get to see all the kois who I imagine have been here for a long time as their size and length gives that away. Their markings are gorgeous. There are also hideaway areas where you can read a book quietly. There are benches and nooks to practice meditation. I recommend coming here during the week in the morning when they are not so busy. The Japanese Garden is open from 10-4PM 7 days a week. The Central Park of San Mateo also has several tennis courts, a huge play area for kids to play in including many swings, slides and plenty of grassy areas for them to run around in. There is also a baseball field with bleachers. A recreational center in the middle of the park that also offers many different types of classes especially for the senior citizens including Tai Chi and Arts and Crafts! The park also has its own Arboretum and is open several days during the week to purchase plants. They have a wonderful rose garden - a great place for children and adults to learn about the different types of roses. Then there are the trees rooted here for more than 100 years! It is just breathtaking. Whenever I come here to run especially during the day time - I make sure to stop by and pay them a visit and soak in all their positive energy. I am sometimes overwhelmed for good reasons by the power of the trees. I feel so fortunate to be a resident of this city and to have access to Central Park where I can come and ZEN out! Central Park of San Mateo has something for everyone! read more

See all

This park has a little bit of everything for you to enjoy. There's a Japanese garden, rose garden, grassy area for light games of catch and picnicking, and paved walking trails all throughout to take you through. Along the paths are benches, statues, and beautifully manicured gardens with lots of flowers. It's really quite a peaceful walk through. There are some big trees that provide a lot of shade for the warmer months. There is a parking structure nearby that goes underground and is free. read more

See all

I love this park. I love tree vine over by picnic area. Nice where stage is across way.

Hi Central Park is great for families with kids of all ages. There is plenty to do and lots to entertain. The park is kept up very nicely. **There has been a weird man at different parks in San Mateo/Foster City/San Carlos that comes around with an Ikea bag full of toys. He has no children with him. He drives a dark grey toyota camry. He is about 5 foot 8 and has dark hair, about 170-180 pounds. He is always on his phone and has toys and trying to talk to children who aren't near their parents... Be careful. read more

Central Park - Weird man at the park with Ikea bag full of toys, no children in attendance. Drives a dark grey toyota camry. He is about 5 foot 8 - Parks Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

Beautiful and big park. It is a great place to take pictures and go on a walk. They have a small japanese garden around there.

One of our favorite places to visit. I take my children there one or twice a week, I like the location, it is very close to our house, centrally located, some times I visited the park after lunch in downtown, or stopped there for the rose garden, Japanese garden or the playground or went there for fresh air, beautiful sun. And there is always plenty of parkings around. read more

See all

Central Park in San Mateo is 16 acres of trees, gardens, greenhouse, baseball field, playground, picnic area, recreation building, tennis courts, and a Japanese Tea Garden. It was the former estate of Charles Polhemus who lived on the grounds in the mid-1800s. It was purchased by William Kohl who added much of the landscaping and fixtures that still survive today. In 1922, San Mateo purchased the grounds for what became Central Park. The park is truly a gem for the city; my family lives in the area so I'm here very often. It's very relaxing to get a coffee or some food in the downtown area then walk over to the park to relax, talk, or read. I probably could not even count the number of coffees I've consumed strolling around the park! It's never too crowded but occasionally one will see some miscreants hanging out in the main area by the flag. I especially like how it's family friendly and within walking distance of everything. The Japanese Garden is ranked as one of the best public gardens in the USA. There's so much to explore and enjoy here it would be silly not to visit if you're in the area. In addition to street parking, there are at least three parking garages near the park if you are visiting from out of the city. read more

See all

A big, beautiful park for kids to play, have a picnic, or take a stroll in after eating downtown. There's lots to do and everything is well-kept. They have a small rose garden, a Japanese Tea Garden, tennis courts, and multiple play structures. You can access the underground parking lot off of 4th Ave. Over the summer, the have free weekly concerts in the park and in the winter they convert the baseball diamond into a ice-skating rink. Throughput the year, there are lots of other fun community events. read more

Great park right in downtown San Mateo! My sister and I frequent this park whenever she plays her Pokémon go, and this place is always filled with people enjoying the park!! There's playgrounds, tennis courts, a baseball field, a rose garden, and plenty of green grass spots where kids and adults can play. It's also big enough to accommodate big parties, as there are plenty of picnic benches. It's hard to believe that this park is right in the heart of downtown San Mateo!! Overall, I highly recommend this park to enjoy some fresh air and walk around, or to sit and relax with friends! read more

Great park huge play area for the kids and lots of grass to run around in. Picnics benches and BBQ pits are available not sure if you need to reserve them they do have them. Lots of squirrels running around they have a fantastic Japanese Tea Garden which is relaxing to stroll and look at the pretty Koi fish not sure how the raccoons don't eat them they must keep them safe in the night time they feed them once a day it's fun to watch Grab a frisbee and have some fun in the sunshine and get some free vitamin D read more

This is the very pretty park that houses the Japanese Tea Garden and is a casual walk away from the great lunch spot that is The Ravioli House. It's a lot of fun to see the various dogs chasing their friends around while they fight for the ball and the doggy heavyweight title, but the main issue for me (and thus the reason it's not five stars) is that it has a small but noticeable homeless problem. They tend to bed down near the giraffe, which is why it took me a bit to realize there were sculptures there. It's a great park to walk through (especially to see the bees!), but it would be a real positive to have a Security guard who walks through every hour and clears people out who are using it to sleep. I'd probably enjoy the park a lot more if I felt comfortable spending more time there. But I do really enjoy the tea garden! read more

The reason I went to this park is because you have to go through this park to get to the Japanese Tea Garden that is hidden within the park. Parking was pretty easy as it was an early Sunday morning - they have a parking garage but I scored parking on the street. The park is pretty awesome. The first thing I noticed was the life-sized iron giraffe. His name is 'Leon' - SUPER CUTE! There are ample benches so finding a place to relax isn't hard. There are also trees that are easy to climb - a plus for kids & big kids like myself. This is a cute, little park - Definitely a perfect place to just chill. read more

Central Park - Posing with Leon. - Parks Near Me - San Mateo, California

See all

Central park is a gem in the City of Santa Clara. It's a great place to get some outdoor time specially during COVID-19. The park has a good trail in place as well as picnic areas to spend some time and relax. read more

Central Park is located off of El Camino Real. Besides all the open green, garden, and forest space, the Park has beautiful Japanese Tea Garden, sports fields, benches, and a small children's train that runs occasionally. It also features a historic: - 900-foot artistic stone and iron fence built to protect and border the property on the west side along the El Camino Real. - Italian-made cast-iron dog statue that stands guard along the path near the Ninth Avenue entrance. I first discovered Central Park in San Mateo when I first moved the Bay Area in 1984. My first apartment was in Belmont (on Winding Way) and in the summer evenings I would stop at a cool and unfortunately long gone bookstore and coffee shop, and then wander over and relax in the Park. Most recently, Gayle and I were on the Peninsula, and while she was visiting a friend, I reacquainted myself with this large and lovely 16 acre park. The Park was once the estate home of Charles B. Polhemus, director of the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad and founder of downtown San Mateo. He lived on the grounds in a 13-room Victorian mansion in the mid-1800s. In the 1870s, William Kohl, a sea captain and founding partner of the Alaska Commercial Co., began buying large parcels of property in the area, including the Polhemus property, which he acquired in 1880. Kohl managed the very successful Alaskan trade and after many years at sea, established his home on the property in San Mateo and his business headquarters in San Francisco. During his 30 years living on the grounds, Kohl oversaw extensive plantings and landscaping, which have been largely preserved. The city of San Mateo then purchased the 16 acres in 1922 for $80,000 (a pittance by today's Peninsula real estate standards). read more