On Wednesday, October 7, 2026, San Mateo reopens East Hillsdale Park, a 2.1-acre neighborhood park on 31st Avenue that has been fenced off since September 2025. Of the three playground rebuilds underway in and around the city this fall, this is the smallest. It is also the only one that finishes in 2026.
The two larger projects are both still behind construction fencing. One is downtown at Central Park. The other is at the county's Magic Mountain playground at Coyote Point, which closed only last month. Until both reopen, play time in San Mateo moves away from its two best-known playgrounds and toward the small parks scattered through its neighborhoods.
Three Rebuilds on One Calendar
Playground | Reported budget | Closed since | Expected back |
|---|---|---|---|
East Hillsdale Park, 123 31st Ave. | $2 million | September 2025 | Reopening ceremony October 7, 2026 |
Central Park playground, downtown | About $8.5 million | Construction began June 2, 2025 | 18 to 24 months from start, no date published |
Magic Mountain, Coyote Point | $3.8 million | September 14, 2026 | Spring 2027 |
Together that comes to roughly $14 million of play space being rebuilt at the same time. The cheapest project is the one finishing first. Its 13-month closure ran longer than planned, but it is still shorter than the window the city has set for Central Park.
East Hillsdale Comes Back on October 7
East Hillsdale's renovation is its first major playground upgrade in 20 years. The old play area had a small toddler section and a spiral slide. According to the published construction scope, the new park adds play equipment with safety surfacing, repaved paths, better lighting and storm drainage, new site furnishings, synthetic turf, irrigation and landscaping. It also called for protecting the existing trees throughout the work. The city lists the Park and Recreation Revenue Fund and California's Proposition 68 as the funding sources.
This playground was a long time coming, and neighbors had a say in how it looks:
- February 2020. The design process starts with a neighborhood survey.
- January 2022. More than 60 residents, children included, vote in person at the park among three equipment vendors. Specified Play Equipment gets 30 votes, Miracle Play Group 27 and Ross Recreation Equipment 8.
- March 2022. The Park and Recreation Commission approves the Miracle Play Group design.
- June 2, 2025. City Council awards the construction contract to Suarez & Munoz Construction. 4LEAF Inc. gets the construction management contract two weeks later.
- October 2025. Demolition of the old playground is finished.
- January 2026. Play equipment installation begins, with a project arborist checking on the trees regularly.
- April 2026. The new storm drainage handles recent storms as designed, and the perimeter paths are 80% complete.
The city told Palo Alto Online in April that the project could finish by late August. Then play equipment parts and light poles arrived late, and by August 19 there was no new date. The city has since set a reopening ceremony for 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. on October 7. The park has no reserved parking. The city asks visitors to park on the street, keep driveways clear and avoid double-parking.
Downtown, the Fence Is Still Up
The playground and picnic areas at Central Park, the 16.3-acre park downtown, have been closed for the "Reimagined Central Park Playground" project since construction began in June 2025. The city's FAQ puts the build at 18 to 24 months. Counting from June 2, 2025, that means an opening sometime between about December 2026 and June 2027. The city has not published a specific date.
The plans are far larger than anything East Hillsdale had. The San Mateo Daily Journal has described the project, nicknamed "Adventure Village," as a forest-themed, sensory-rich playground. It includes climbing, spinning, sliding, musical and tactile play, a shaded plaza for caregivers and a new restroom, with a reported price of $8.5 million. The city's project page also lists rebuilt picnic areas, new walkways, lighting and seating.
The construction footprint has changed this year. The city uses the central lawn as its staging area, which is why most summer events moved to Fitzgerald Field. We covered that change in our look at downtown San Mateo's summer Thursdays. In July, the city said the staging fence would grow to take in the lawn next to the Fallen Heroes Memorial for irrigation repairs and new sod. The city says the park itself stays open throughout, with less than 10% of its area affected.
During construction, the Japanese Garden, the Central Rose Garden and the Central Park Recreation Center at 50 E. 5th Ave. remain accessible. The Japanese Garden is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. For swings and slides, the city's closure notice points families to four nearby parks:
- 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
All four are less than a mile from Central Park. Starting this week, East Hillsdale joins them as another rebuilt option in the eastern part of the city.
Coyote Point Starts Its Turn
The county's Magic Mountain playground at Coyote Point Recreation Area was originally scheduled to close on August 14. The county later moved construction to Monday, September 14. The closure covers the playground, the picnic sites around it, the parking lot behind it and the EV chargers in that lot. The nearby RV campsites and restroom stay open.
The replacement went through its own public vote, a much larger one. The county surveyed 840 people, and 78% chose the "Magical Adventure in a Seaside Land" concept. The design is a sea-themed landscape that children can explore freely, plus a 50-foot zipline built so children of all abilities can ride it. The county's target opening is spring 2027. The Board of Supervisors approved the $3.8 million replacement in March 2026.
The rest of Coyote Point is open. The county says most amenities, including waterfront access and the promenade, are available during construction. CuriOdyssey lists general admission hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. A Coyote Point outing this winter can still include the bay, the promenade and the museum. The big playground is the only part missing.
How the Map Fills Back In
Put the three schedules side by side and the order of reopenings is fairly clear. East Hillsdale opens first, this Wednesday. Central Park's window starts in December and runs through June 2027, and the county is aiming for spring 2027 at Coyote Point. If both larger projects hit their targets, San Mateo's two biggest new playgrounds could open within a few months of each other next year.
Until then, the playgrounds within walking distance of home do most of the work. That includes the four parks the city named for Central Park families, and now a rebuilt East Hillsdale, where the equipment was chosen by neighbors who voted at the park. Neither the city nor the county has published an exact opening date for the two larger projects. The city posts Central Park updates at cityofsanmateo.org/4142/Central-Park-Playground-Renovation, and the county posts Coyote Point notices on its closures page.
If you're thinking about how close your San Mateo home is to the parks your family uses most, or how this city's neighborhood parks show up when a home is valued, the team at David Newcombe is glad to talk it through. Request a complimentary home valuation & consultation, and explore more about the city on our San Mateo neighborhood page.
Mary Murphy | 650-773-4999 | [email protected] | Menlo Park and Atherton's trusted guide for life's next chapter
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Frequently Asked Questions About San Mateo Playground Renovations
Is East Hillsdale Park in San Mateo open?
Yes. East Hillsdale Park at 123 31st Avenue reopened on October 7, 2026, after closing in September 2025 for a $2 million renovation.
What's new at East Hillsdale Park?
The renovation added new play equipment with safety surfacing, repaved paths, improved lighting and storm drainage, synthetic turf, irrigation, landscaping, and new site furnishings. Existing trees were protected throughout construction.
Is there parking at East Hillsdale Park?
There is no reserved parking. The city asks visitors to park on the street, keep driveways clear, and avoid double-parking.
When will the Central Park playground in San Mateo reopen?
The city estimates 18 to 24 months from the June 2, 2025 construction start, which points to roughly December 2026 through June 2027. No specific date has been published.
Is Central Park in San Mateo open during construction?
Yes. The park stays open, with less than 10% of its area affected. The Japanese Garden, Central Rose Garden, and Central Park Recreation Center remain accessible.
Where can families play while the Central Park playground is closed?
The city recommends Gateway Park, Sunnybrae Park, Borel Park, and Martin Luther King Jr. Park, all less than a mile from Central Park.
When does the Magic Mountain playground at Coyote Point reopen?
San Mateo County is targeting spring 2027. The playground closed on September 14, 2026 for a $3.8 million replacement featuring a sea-themed design and a 50-foot accessible zipline.
Is Coyote Point Recreation Area open during playground construction?
Yes. Most amenities, including waterfront access and the promenade, remain open. CuriOdyssey is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
