Parks

Looking back on 100 years!

On July 4, 1924, six years after World War I, fifteen-hundred people gathered under the towering redwood trees in Loma Mar to memorialize the fallen. That day marked the dedication of Memorial Park and its opening to the public. Since then, generations of families and friends have returned year after year to enjoy each other’s company, celebrate accomplishments, make life-long memories, and soak in the awe-inspiring surroundings.

It was also on that day, a century ago, the San Mateo County Parks Department was created. Since then the Department has grown to manage 24 parks and close to 16,000 acres, a park system that serves nearly 3 million visitors annually.

In July 2024 we celebrated our centennial as a department with a rededication of Memorial Park and the unveiling of a plaque honoring all San Mateo County residents who have fallen while in service to the country.

Learn more about the Memorial Park Centennial Celebration

2024 also saw the 50-year anniversary celebration of Wunderlich Park in Woodside. More than 130 gathered for music, guided hikes, and docent led tours of the Carriage Room Museum, which conveys our local history of lumbering, farming, and the great estate era.

Learn more about the Wunderlich Park 50-Year Celebration

Ensuring we continue to offer outdoor experiences and protect and preserve these parklands for future generations is the Department’s mission and what motivates San Mateo County Parks’ staff. We’re working to make the outdoors a welcoming place for all by offering access to parks in varying environments and expanding facilities, services, and programs. We’re rising to meet evolving recreational interests while also making sure the redwoods, grand oaks, ocean views, and protected species remain and thrive.

See Also

• Memorial Park: The Birth, Centennial & Future of San Mateo County Parks
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