Purpose
Keep our residents informed on a range of issues from horticulture to traffic to neighborhood safety for the purpose of creating a stronger, safer and more tightly-knit neighborhood, for people of all ages to enjoy.
Welcome to The Park
From flowering magnolias to cork oak trees, San Mateo Park is a botanical garden and a horticultural dream. In 1896, famed landscape architect John McLaren, designer of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, supervised the planting of native oak and redwood trees, elms, maples, poplars, palms, cedars and olive trees throughout our neighborhood.
The architectural styles in San Mateo Park include works by such renowned architects as Julia Morgan, Bernard Maybeck, and John Howard, representing every vernacular from Queen Anne Victorian, to Arts and Crafts, to period revivals of the 1920's and 30's.
"It is this neighborhood feeling, along with the exuberance of its architecture and landscaping, that gives San Mateo Park its unique character and desirability."
Come here to:
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Learn about San Mateo Park's rich history of civic design and horticulture
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Connect with fellow neighbors
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Get engaged on critical issues
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Lend your voice to shape the future of San Mateo Park
A Brief History
Winding Streets Punctuated by 62 Planted Islands
The Clark family worked this lovely plot of land as a dairy farm and cattle ranch for decades, but the San Francisco elite had other ideas in mind. In 1896, John McLaren, respected landscape architect and designer of Golden Gate Park, along with noted architect George H. Howard, started the development of San Mateo Park. Winding streets were laid out to conform to the gentle rolling terrain and 62 street islands/circles were formed, each to be planted with unique trees. McLaren chose his islands to be graced with classic native California trees of oak and redwood along with Eastern maples, poplars, and exotic tree specimens from around the world including cork oak and olive trees. Read more HERE.