Why is This Important?
Parks and open space enrich a community's quality of life. Access to, and use of parks and open space can improve public health and increase values of nearby property. Parks and open space bring the natural environment closer to each citizen and are also public gathering places that bring people together and build a sense of community. Open space attracts tourism, and safeguards clean air, habitat, and drinking water.
What is a Sustainable State?
A sustainable state is one where parks and open space are abundant, of good quality, and readily accessible to all residents.
How Are We Doing?
Open Space
• At the end of 2008, there were over 112,000 acres of protected open space in San Mateo County, the majority of which was open for public use (either free or by permit or fee). In total, protected open space comprises about 39 percent of the total area of San Mateo County. By comparison, 29 percent of Santa Clara County is protected and 62 percent of Marin County is protected.
• Significant landholdings in the county include watershed lands managed by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), land owned by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District and the Peninsula Open Space Trust, state parks, and San Mateo County parks. The remaining protected lands are owned by cities, the federal government, state agencies and nonprofit organizations.
City parks
City parks are generally the most accessible and most used park facilities. Access to these parks by residents can have big impacts on public health and property values. As in past years, SSMC asked local government officials to complete a survey on their city-owned parks. Of note, these results do not include school-owned facilities within a jurisdiction, or parks and open space owned by other organizations.
• In 2009, Portola Valley had the highest number of acres of city-owned parkland per 1,000 residents, with 18.0 acres per 1,000 residents. The town reported to SSMC that it had 84 acres of parks for its 4,671 residents.
• In aggregate, there were 2.7 acres of city-owned parks per 1,000 residents in San Mateo County, an increase of about 10 percent from the survey data of 2008.
• Total parks acreage in San Mateo County increased about 10 percent in 2009 to 1,848 acres, suggesting continued support among local governments for development of new park facilities.
• San Mateo County reported 15,680 acres of county parks and open space in 2009.
