This webpage will cover both Playgrounds and Sports. Currently the Sports information is presented below; however, we plan on providing information and conversation about the Playgrounds soon.
NEW: Our area youth have been dealt a terrible blow: At the last minute, County Supervisors removed from this years construction of Phase 1 both the baseball field restoration and the main multi-use field. They are now delayed by 3 or 4 or more years and now are unfunded. Please read: Help Prioritize Youth Sports
Please take 4 minutes to provide your opinions and feedback on our Sports Survey at the bottom of this webpage. Your feedback will help us achieve a better plan for Flood Park. The Survey results will be sent to you and shared with everyone, including the County Parks department.
Sports
Flood Park currently has many sports fields, however, some have not been maintained for over a decade. The baseball field was not restored after the water supply work many years ago.
Here is a list of current sports areas at the park:
Sport | Qty | Comments – Notes |
---|---|---|
Baseball | 1 | not maintained – closed due to condition of field |
Petanque, Boules, and Bocce | not restored – closed due to condition of area | |
Horseshoes | 4 | Some maintained – some not |
Softball | 1 | Not maintained, but open |
Tennis | 4 | Not maintained — not useable |
Volleyball | 4 | Sand courts with nets |
Walking/Jogging/Bird Watching | Y | A path with alternate routes throughout woodland |
Usage Statistics
County’s most recent usage statistics* of sport areas in the park shows that Volleyball, Softball, and Tennis are the most popular. Baseball, Horseshoes, and Petanque are less popular.
Proposed Plan (Reimagine)
While the Proposed plan is approved, it seems that there are still decisions that are fluid and may change. The most popular sports at the park, using actual usage statistics*, are Volleyball, Softball, and Tennis, yet the proposed plan removes 1/2 of the courts from both volleyball and tennis and it eliminates the popular softball field.
Here is a list of Planned sports areas at the park:
Sport | Qty | Comments – Notes |
---|---|---|
Baseball | 1 | Restores existing field |
+Basketball | 1 | At drop off area |
— | removed | |
— | removed | |
Pickleball | — | Planned – sharing tennis courts |
— | removed – Baseball field will be available | |
-Tennis | 2 courts removed | |
-Volleyball | 2 courts removed (see item below) | |
+Soccer/Lacrosse | 2 | Multipurpose fields on sport fields side of park |
Walking/Jogging/Bird Watching | Y | Path in nature part of park with connecting routes |
Multipurpose fields to host soccer or lacrosse and other play are planned. As of March 2023, the Phase 1 Plan that had included the baseball and multipurpose fields was changed. Baseball field restoration and the large multipurpose field were removed from the Phase 1 plan. That means that these sports fields will be delayed many years. See discussion: Help Prioritize Youth Sports
* County did not provide park updated usage counts. County provided usage counts in a prior plan.
Sports Fields in San Mateo County
The following section documents sports fields in the county near and around Flood Park. This list was compiled with community volunteer efforts by referencing various online resources, including local city sites for sport fields and their usage policies.
Click on the above tab subjects to explore area sports fields and city usage policies:
- Sports Fields in San Mateo County
- Menlo Park sport field usage policy
- Redwood City sport field usage policy
- Belmont sport field usage policy
- San Mateo City policy
Sport Fields in San Mateo County
With the area growing so fast we need to pay attention to balance. Yes, absolutely, we need affordable and low income housing throughout county, but we need to be smart and balanced when addressing this housing inequity. It needs to come with a balance of:
City | Location | Soccer | Multipurpose | Ball Fields |
---|---|---|---|---|
Menlo Park | ||||
Burgess | Includes large dividable field and auxiliary field | Multi-purpose field | Includes baseball and softball diamond | |
Jack Lyle | Includes large dividable field | Multi-purpose field | ||
Hillview | Includes large dividable field best suited for soccer and lacrosse | Multi-purpose field | Includes softball | |
M-A | Soccer field | Baseball/softball diamond | ||
Willow Oak | Includes dividable field | Multi-purpose field | Includes ball diamond | |
Encinal | Soccer field | |||
Kelly Park | Soccer | |||
Belle Haven School | Includes large dividable field | Multi-purpose field | Includes ball diamond | |
La Entrada | Includes large dividable field | Multi-purpose field | Includes ball diamond | |
Nealon Park | Includes large dividable field and auxiliary field | Multi-purpose field | Includes softball diamond | |
Oak Knoll | Baseball/softball diamond | |||
Atherton | ||||
Cartan Athletic FieldsMenlo College and Menlo School | Soccer/football/lacrosse field | 2 Baseball | ||
Redwood City | ||||
Red Morton | 3 soccer/lacrosse | ? 5 ball diamonds possibly | ||
Hoover Park | Soccer | Baseball | ||
Taft Elementary | Grass Field (part of Baseball fields) | Baseball | ||
Garfield Elementary | Soccer (grass field) | Baseball | ||
Marlin Park | Soccer | Baseball | ||
Hawes Park | Soccer | Baseball | ||
Mariner Park (6.25 acres of grassy area) | Large grass area | |||
Sandpiper Park | Soccer | Baseball | ||
San Carlos | ||||
Highlands Park | Soccer | 2 Baseball | ||
Arguello | Baseball | |||
Laureolla | Soccer | Baseball | ||
Burton Park east | Soccer (? multipurpose) | Baseball | ||
Heather (Raymond and Macie) Elem School | Soccer | |||
Stadium Field | 2 Soccer | ?multi-purpose | Baseball | |
San Mateo | ||||
Chantaloup | softball | |||
San Mateo High School | (football) | baseball | ||
Benoit | baseball | |||
Bay Meadows | soccer | baseball | ||
Bayside/Joinville | Includes soccer | Multi-purpose field | Includes baseball | |
Beresford | Baseball/softball | |||
Central | Baseball | |||
Harborview | Baseball | |||
Lakeshore | Baseball | |||
Laurie Meadows | Includes soccer | Multi-purpose field | ||
Los Prados | Includes soccer | Multi-purpose field | Includes baseball | |
Mariners Island | Baseball | |||
Martin Luther King | Includes soccer | Multi-purpose field | Baseball | |
Shoreview Park | Baseball | |||
Trinta Park | Baseball | |||
Fiesta Meadows | Soccer (large grass field) | |||
Foster City | ||||
Catamaran Park | Soccer | |||
Port Royal | Soccer | |||
Burlingame | ||||
Bayside Park Fields | Soccer | Base/soft ball | ||
Cuernavaca | Large green – soccer | Base/soft ball | ||
Franklin Field (full – north half – south half) | Soccer/lacrosse | |||
Burlingame High School | soccer | baseball | ||
Murray Field | Soccer/lacrosse (? 3) | |||
Osberg Field (School District) | Soccer | |||
Ray Park 1 -2 | Soccer (? 2) | softball | ||
Village Park Field | soccer | |||
Washington Park | Soccer | baseball | ||
East Palo Alto | Rich May Field | Soccer/rugby | Duel use field designed for Rugby & Soccer | |
Jack Farrell | Large and small grass area | Baseball/softball | ||
Martin Luther King | (? Includes Soccer) | Multi-purpose field | Baseball | |
Bell St. Park | Large grass area | |||
San Bruno | ||||
Crestmoor (Peninsula High School) | Soccer | |||
Parkside (Intermediate School) | Soccer | |||
Portola Elementary | Soccer | |||
Skyline College | Soccer | |||
Milbrae | ||||
Taylor Fields Middle School | Soccer | 4 diamonds | ||
Green Hills Elementary Fields upper and lower | Practice fields | |||
Lomita Park Field Elementary | Practice fields | |||
Meadows Field | Practice fields | |||
Spring Valley Field | Practice fields | |||
Belmont | ||||
Alexander Park | Small grass field | |||
Barrett Community Center | Multi-purpose field | |||
Central Elementary | Multi-purpose field | Ballfield | ||
Cipriani Park | Multi-purpose field | Ballfield | ||
Fox Elementary | Multi-purpose field | Ballfield | ||
McDougal Park | Multi-purpose field | Ballfield | ||
Nesbit Elementary | Multi-purpose field | Ballfield | ||
Ralston Middle School | Multi-purpose field | Ballfield | ||
Sports Complex and Conference Center | Soccer | Baseball | ||
Twin Pines Park | Multi-purpose field | |||
Daly City | ||||
Gellert Park | Open field | Open field | ||
Marchbank Park | Open field | Field for softball and baseball | ||
South San Francisco | Alta Loma Middle School and Park | Soccer/?lacrosse | baseball | |
Avalon Park | Baseball | |||
Brentwood Park | Baseball | |||
Buri Buri | Baseball | |||
Hillside Athletic Field | Soccer | Baseball | ||
Orange Memorial Park – closed for renovation – due open Spring 2023 with flexible multiuse field for baseball, softball, soccer | ||||
Martin Elementary School Field | baseball | |||
Ponderosa School Field | softball/baseball | |||
Southwood School Ball field (Callero and Small) | baseball | |||
Westborough Park | baseball | |||
Terra Bay Baseball fields | Also used for soccer | baseball | ||
Zamora Park | Baseball | |||
Brisbane | ||||
Soccer and Baseball Field – 2 Solano St | soccer | baseball | ||
Colma | None noted | |||
Hillsborough | ||||
Hillsborough Rec District Field | Includes Soccer | Multi-purpose field | Includes Baseball | |
Crocker Middle School | Includes Soccer | Multi-purpose field | Includes Baseball | |
North Hillsborough Elem school Fields – A, B, D, E | Practice | Practice | ||
South Hillsborough Elem school Field | Practice | Practice | ||
West Hillsborough Elem and Preschool Fields A,B,C | Practice | Practice | ||
Vista Park | Practice | Practice | ||
Portola Valley | Father Christopher Field | Soccer | ||
Rossotti Field | Soccer | |||
Louis Kovacs Field | Soccer | |||
Russ Miller Field | Soccer | Soft/baseball | ||
Ford Field | baseball | |||
Town Center | softball | |||
Woodside | ||||
Barkley Fields and Park | soccer | baseball |
Menlo Park Usage Priorities
Sport Field Reservation priority. The qualifying criteria for field use priority is as follows:
1. City sponsored youth programs
2. City sponsored adult programs
3. School district sponsored youth programs
4. Returning youth programs with greater than 50% residents
5. Returning adult programs with greater than 50% residents
6. Programs offering scholarships or reduced fees to lower-income participants.
7. New youth programs with greater than 50% residents
8. New adult programs with greater than 50% residents
9. All “other” programs
Redwood City Policy
The primary permit holder representing a resident league or resident team must be a Redwood City resident for a permit to be issued. Please note that citizens residing in the county areas of North Fair Oaks or the Emerald Hills areas are considered Redwood City residents under these policies. Please review the “Priority of Use” section on page two to determine your organization’s priority level
Permits Will Be Issued Based on the Following:
Priority #1 Programs and activities administered by the Redwood City Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department (on all City fields), and all programs and activities administered by the Redwood City School District (on all School fields).
Priority #2 Priority is based on all of the following criteria: a. Returning Youth Sport User Groups whose organizations have been associated with the City (for 5 or more years), including: RWC AYSO, Juventus, Madera Roja, MP Strikers, Redwood City Girls Softball League, Redwood City National Little League, Mount Carmel Baseball, St. Pius baseball, Highlanders Little League, Redwood City American Little League, Pop Warner Football, Belmont / Redwood Shores Sports Leagues, Redwood City Pony-Colt, Redwood City Adult Soccer (Mid Peninsula, Papy, Spanish Soccer leagues). b. Must be a Redwood City based non-profit youth sport organization – 501 (c)(3) (This cannot be a PO Box) . c. Youth sport league with at least 66% Redwood City residents (two-thirds) *Should a schedule or permit request conflict arise, the following principles shall apply:
1.) Every effort MUST be made to form a compromise by those involved on reasonable requests
2) Size of the organization, residency numbers, number of kids affected, and season in question will all be considered
3. The City shall act as the arbitrator if parties involved cannot come up with a reasonable solution
Priority #3 a. Youth or Adult League with at least 50% Redwood City residents b. Must be a Redwood City based non-profit youth or adult organization – 501 (c)(3)
Priority #4 a. Youth TEAM with at least 50% Redwood City residents Priority
Priority #5 a. Youth and adult Redwood City resident 50 % private rentals Priority
Priority #6 a. Youth and adult non-resident private rentals Fee
Belmont Policy
PRIORITY OF USE
GROUP I: • Belmont Parks & Recreation Department programs • City Non-Profit Youth Sports Organizations (in season) – Spring/Summer (baseball, softball) – Fall/Winter (soccer) • Belmont Redwood Shores School District Programs (on school sites)
GROUP II: • City Non-Profit Youth Sports Organizations (out of season) – Spring/Summer (Soccer) – Fall/Winter (baseball, softball) • City Public High School Sports (on City park sites) • City Public Elementary School Sports (on City park sites)
GROUP III: • New City Non-Profit Youth Sports Organizations (in season) • City Non-Profit Adult Sports (not affiliated with Belmont Parks & Recreation Department programs)
GROUP IV: • City Private School Sports • City For-Profit Sports • Regional Non-Profit Youth Sports Organization
GROUP V: • Corporate/Private Organizations/Private Individuals • Community College Sports • Private Sports Camps & Clinics
San Mateo City Usage Policy for Field Allocation
- 1. Resident: A person/organization whose address is within the San Mateo City limits.
- 2. Non-Resident: A person/organization whose address does not fall within San Mateo City limits. Non-residents include those whose address is located in unincorporated areas of San Mateo
VII. User Group Priority Classifications The following priorities are used as guidelines. The City of San Mateo reserves the right to adjust these priorities as deemed appropriate in order to best serve City of San Mateo residents.
Priority 1 Programs and activities conducted or sponsored by the City of San Mateo. This includes the San Mateo Police Activities League program(s). City of San Mateo Athletic Field Use and Allocation Policy Page 8 of 27
Priority 2 pertains to two separate groups. First, programs conducted by Elementary Schools (K-8) within the City of San Mateo. Second, organizations that limit their recruitment and sign-ups to individuals living within the San Mateo City limits and are recreational in nature having a “everyone plays; no child is turned away” philosophy. Residency requirement for Priority 2 consideration is a minimum of 90%. A. Programs conducted by validated, nonprofit, youth sports groups with preference given to a sport in its traditional season as defined below: • Winter/Spring Sports (baseball, softball) • Summer/Fall Sports (soccer, football) Coaches and board members must be volunteers. The organization must maintain an affiliation with a national, state or local sports governing board. Some exceptions may exist that allow a non-resident to participate in their program. Established and returning organizations will have priority over a new organizations providing a similar sport or activity.
Priority 3 pertains to two separate groups. First, programs conducted by private high schools within the City of San Mateo. Second, organizations in which participants must “tryout” or be selected based on skill level. Organizations may be “select” in that participants may be recruited from cities other than San Mateo. Residency requirement for Priority 3 consideration is a minimum of 50%. Residency verification may be required. A. Programs conducted by validated, non-profit, youth sports group. An organization that has a San Mateo address, or one that has a minimum of 50% residents. “Cuts” may take place and coaches may be paid. Established and returning groups will have priority over a new group providing a similar sport or activity. B. Specialized programs offered by groups classified as Priority 2 that are outside the normal league structure. Examples of such programs are: specialty camps; regional tournaments; “select” team facilitation.
Priority 4 Organizations in which participants must “tryout” or be selected based on skill level. Organizations may be “select” in that participants may be recruited from cities other than San Mateo. Residency requirement for Priority 4 consideration is a minimum of 25% residency. Residency verification may be required. A. Programs conducted by validated, non-profit, youth sports groups. An organization that has a San Mateo address, or one that has a minimum of 25% residents. “Cuts” may take place and coaches may be paid. Established and returning groups will have priority over a new group providing a similar sport or activity.
Priority 5 A. Adult resident sports groups or teams. City of San Mateo Athletic Field Use and Allocation Policy Page 9 of 27 B. Resident private rentals.
Priority 6 Youth or Adult non-resident groups, teams, or individuals. Non-resident is defined as having an organization address outside of the San Mateo City limits and/or having less than 25% residency.
Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the US. I would very much like to see permanent pickleball courts at Flood Park. 4 pickleball courts fit on the same space taken up by one tennis court and 16 people can play there instead of just 4. There is a terrific need and nterest in pickleball courts. I would be happy to provide more information.
See what has been done with Pickleball at Mitchell Park in Palo Alto. https://www.paloaltopickleballclub.org/
Some have suggested that maybe two of four tennis courts be modified so that pickle ball could also be played there. It may be possible to add 3 or 4 pickle ball courts if 2 of the 4 tennis courts were converted. If you like Ron’s idea of pickle ball, please add your comments here.
I would also very much like to see pickleball courts added to Flood Park. Currently there are only the 4 Nealon Park courts in Menlo Park and they’re often full and you have to wait. Palo Alto has 15 courts; Menlo Park has only 4. Those 4 were created from just one tennis court; since you’re reducing the Flood Park tennis court count anyway, take one of the removed courts and make it into 4 pickleball courts! It’d be nice to have pickleball courts on the east side of town.
Pickleball is a great sport, played by a wide range of people, young and old. I understand it’s even being added to some school curriculums. We play every week and would play more if courts were closer/more available. Thanks for considering this request.
The increased popularity of pickleball in this area calls for more courts in San Mateo. One Nealon Park tennis court has been lined for pickleball play as a trial run. During this trial period, over 500 people have made use of the courts and sometimes people are lining up to play. This in comparison to the other courts which are usually empty or have only two people playing. Nealon Park along with Mitchell Park in Palo Alto would be good examples of how the popularity of pickleball cries out for more courts.
I do hope that this information will be taken into account when Flood Park is reimagined.
If it is not already planned, I strongly recommend building a workout station (for calisthenics, stretching, pull ups etc. ) somewhere along or off the walking path. Such station takes about 20ft x 20ft and it will have pull-up bars, parallel bars etc. This does not require any tree cutting and in fact will be nicer if it is among the trees. With the nice weather we have here, it is much more pleasant to work out in the park instead of going to gym and breathing the recirculated air! Please see these website for some ideas: https://calisthenics-parks.com/spots/1589-en-san-jose-exercise-station-cataldi-park & https://www.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/Services/Sports-Parks-Recreation/Outdoor-Fitness-Equipment-Circuit-Paths.