Central Park (San Mateo) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Central Park & Recreation Center |
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Entrance sign for Central Park
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| Type | Urban park |
| Location | San Mateo, California |
| Area | 16.5 acres (7 ha) |
| Open | 1922 |
| Parking | street, garage |
| Public transit access |
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Central Park is a super cool park in San Mateo, California. It was the very first public park in the city! This big park is about 16.5 acres, which is like 12 football fields. It's surrounded by major streets: El Camino Real to the west, 5th Avenue to the north, Laurel Avenue to the east, and 9th Avenue to the south.
The park was created in 1922 when the city bought the land for $80,000. This land used to belong to Charles B. Polhemus. Today, Central Park is a busy place with lots of fun things to do. You can find a baseball field, tennis courts, cool sculptures, a playground, and even a Japanese tea garden. There's also a recreation center, a miniature train, a beautiful rose garden, and the San Mateo Arboretum.
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What Can You Do at Central Park?
Central Park has many cool spots to explore. Here are some of the main attractions:
Recreation Center
The recreation center at Central Park is a place where many activities happen. It's mainly used by an organization called Self-Help for the Elderly. They offer fun activities for senior citizens during weekdays. There are even ceramics classes and a studio where people can make pottery!
Fitzgerald Field (Baseball)
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Scoreboard at Fitzgerald Field
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| Full name | Justin "Fitz" Fitzgerald Memorial Field |
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| Owner | City of San Mateo |
| Type | Stadium |
| Genre(s) | Baseball |
| Seating type | bleachers |
| Capacity | 1,500 |
| Field size |
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| Surface | grass |
| Scoreboard | Electronic |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1922 |
| Tenants | |
| San Mateo Blues (1924–1941; 1948–1978) |
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One of the oldest parts of Central Park is its baseball field. It was built when the park first opened in 1922. A local semiprofessional baseball team called the San Mateo Blues played here for many years, from 1924 to 1978.
The field is named after Justin "Fitz" Fitzgerald. He managed the Blues team for over a decade. The field even has lights, added in 1935, so games could be played at night. The grandstand, where fans sit, can hold about 1,100 people.
Did you know that famous baseball player Barry Bonds supposedly hit home runs from this field? He played high school baseball here for Serra. The city of San Mateo really wants to keep Fitzgerald Field for future generations of baseball players.
Tennis Courts
Central Park has six tennis courts where you can play. They are located on the roof of a parking garage. These courts are lit, so you can play even after the sun goes down!
Japanese Tea Garden
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The Japanese Tea Garden is a peaceful and beautiful part of the park. It was designed by Nagao Sakurai and opened in 1966. You'll see lovely cherry trees, Japanese maples, and tiny bonsai trees here.
San Mateo has a "sister city" relationship with Toyonaka, Japan. Toyonaka has given several special sculptures to the garden. These include a five-level stone pagoda statue and a small shrine. The garden also has a traditional gazebo and a teahouse. It's a great place to relax and enjoy nature.
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Children's Playground and Miniature Train
The children's playground is a fun spot with climbing equipment and a big sandbox. Right next to it, there's a miniature railway!
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The Bianchi miniature railway is a favorite for kids. It has a special train that looks like the old Southern Pacific "Daylight" trains. This train has been running since 1948! It can carry up to 10 children at a time. A ride costs $2, and sometimes the train operator also opens a snack bar.
San Mateo Arboretum and Rose Garden
The park also has a beautiful rose garden with a gazebo. It's a popular spot for taking photos and even for weddings! The San Mateo Arboretum Society helps take care of the rose garden. They also have their meeting place in the old Kohl pumphouse nearby. Volunteers from the Arboretum Society plant and maintain all the lovely roses.
Sculptures and Historic Structures
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You'll find some cool sculptures in the park. One is a life-size giraffe statue named Leon. It's made of copper and was created in 1978. You can spot Leon on the park's northeast lawn.
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There's also an old Italian cast-iron statue of a dog. Kids love to see this dog statue! It's been in the park since the early days. The fancy iron fence along El Camino Real is also very old, dating back to when the land was a private estate. The Kohl pumphouse is the only building left from the original estate.
Fun Events at Central Park
Central Park is a hub for many exciting events throughout the year:
- Baseball Series: Every two years, San Mateo and its sister city, Toyonaka, Japan, have a special little league baseball series. The final game is played at Fitzgerald Field when San Mateo hosts.
- Central Park Music Series: During the summer, you can enjoy free concerts on Thursday nights. Local bands play live music for everyone to enjoy.
- Eggstravaganza: Each spring, the city holds a big egg hunt and parade for kids.
- Other Celebrations: The park also hosts events like the San Mateo Bacon & Brew Festival in October, a Holiday Floral Art Show in December, and an ice skating rink called San Mateo on Ice from November to January.
History of Central Park
The land where Central Park now sits has a long history. In 1854, a man named Charles B. Polhemus bought the land. He was important in building the first railroad in the area. He built a large mansion on the property.
Later, in 1880, William Kohl bought the estate. He was a wealthy businessman. He hired famous landscapers to design the grounds with beautiful trees and a long stone and iron fence. Many of these old trees and the fence are still in the park today!
The city of San Mateo bought 16 acres of this land in 1922 to create the first public park. They paid $80,000 for it. The baseball field was one of the first things built in the new park. A few years later, in 1926, another half-acre was added.
The old Kohl mansion was used by San Mateo Junior College for a few years. But it was torn down in 1928. Many of the park's current features, like the playground, recreation center, and tennis courts, were added between 1937 and 1969.
