1 0
5 6
DATE: December 15, 2025
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Stefan Chatwin, City Manager
Marlene Subhashini, Assistant City Manager
FROM: Derek Schweigart, Parks and Recreation Director
Frank Fanara, Parks Maintenance Manager
DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
SUBJECT: APPROVING THE PARKS SYSTEM MASTER PLAN
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a Resolution approving the Foster City Parks System Master Plan (Plan) to be used as the guiding document for future planning, development, and reinvestment in the City’s parks and recreation system.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Plan serves as a strategic roadmap and establishes a clear vision and framework to guide City decision-makers in the development, rehabilitation, maintenance, and funding of Foster City’s parks over the next 10–20 years. The Plan reflects a comprehensive, 18-month planning process grounded in extensive community engagement to define the long-term direction of the City’s parks and recreation system.
City staff partnered with Wallace Roberts & Todd (WRT), a consultant team with significant expertise in parks and recreation planning, master plan development, project management, and public participation, to develop the plan.
The overall scope of services included the following:
1. Develop proposed Plan vision, goals, and objectives.
2. Conduct existing conditions assessment and facilities study.
3. Develop and conduct a robust outreach and public participation plan.
1 0
5 6
4. Conduct a needs assessment including conducting a comparative analysis of neighboring cities, identifying emerging local and regional trends that will inform the Plan.
5. Provide recommendations that include a prioritization matrix that will inform the implementation action plan.
6. Develop an implementation plan with adequate details on costs and potential funding sources.
The completed plan reflects a robust, comprehensive planning effort. Adoption of the Plan will provide a consistent framework for decision-making, capital investment, and grant funding applications. It also positions the City to strengthen maintenance and sustainability practices, enhance recreational access and equity, and ensure that future park development reflects community values.
BACKGROUND
Since its implementation in 1989, the City’s Parks System Master Plan has provided strategic guidance for the development and maintenance of park facilities. Periodic reviews and updates to the Plan are necessary to align with evolving community needs and the City’s fiscal capacity.
On December 18, 2023, the City Council authorized the release of a Request for Proposals/Qualifications (RFP/Q) to prepare a comprehensive Parks System Master Plan. On May 6, 2024, the Council approved a professional services agreement with WRT to help develop the plan. The process formally began in mid-2024 with Council adoption of a robust Public Participation Plan outlining a multi-phase community engagement strategy. More than 1,600 community members participated in the Plan process through surveys, public meetings, focus groups, pop-ups, and online tools.
Feedback directly shaped the Plan’s goals, policies, and improvement recommendations. Common community themes included desires for greater comfort and shade, improved water access, additional pickleball and multi-use courts, and enhanced opportunities for social gathering and events.
Beginning in July 2024 and continuing through 2025, the project team, comprised of City staff and WRT, completed the following:
1. A full park system inventory and park condition assessment.
2. A statistically valid community survey, three online surveys, multiple workshops and pop-ups engaging more than 1,600 participants.
3. Analysis of access, programming, and operational needs.
4. Draft system-wide policies and park specific improvement recommendations.
5. The final document, the Foster City Parks Master Plan which serves as a strategic roadmap to guide the next generation of park investments and management decisions.
ANALYSIS
1 0
5 6
The Plan, developed in collaboration with WRT, reflects a comprehensive 18-month community planning effort. The Plan sets priorities, policies, and phased strategies to guide park system improvements for the next 10 to 20 years. The Plan documents the broad community input that was received throughout the process, provides a detailed overview of the City’s existing park system, and phased recommendations.
The six (6) guiding principles serve as the Plan’s foundation:
1. Foster City’s parks and recreation system is vibrant, comfortable and responsive.
2. Foster City has a connected and accessible parks and recreation system.
3. The lagoon and bay are active and well-integrated within the community.
4. Foster City has lively and inclusive events and programs.
5. Foster City’s parks and programs are environmentally sustainable.
6. Operational efficiency and economic feasibility are core to park and recreation management in Foster City.
Each of the overarching guidelines is supported by specific policies and actions that establish clear objectives for implementation. These can be found in Chapter 4 of the Plan document entitled “Our Vision”. In addition, the Plan sets forth park standards for the various park types that have been identified in the Plan – Community Parks, Neighborhood Parks, Mini Parks, Special Use Parks, and Trails & Pathways. The standards establish clear guidelines for the planning, design, and evolution of parks in Foster City.
Parks System-Citywide Findings
The City’s parkland level of service remains strong at 3.2 acres per 1,000 residents, reflecting a well-distributed and well-maintained system that serves the community effectively today. Through the assessment process, several priorities emerged to ensure continued alignment with community expectations and demographic trends, including:
Park Comfort: Need for more shade, seating, and improved or expanded restrooms.
New Park Experiences: Residents want new experiences and more passive spaces like walking paths, picnic areas, and natural areas. Geese & Water Quality: Geese and water quality issues deter use; desire for more waterfront access and activation.
Community Events & Programs: Desire for more diverse programs and events, especially fitness, outdoor recreation, and activities for seniors. Indoor Recreation & Swimming: Need for increased indoor recreation and access to swimming opportunities.
Trails & Connectivity: Residents value trails and want more connections and safety improvements.
1 0
5 6
Park-Specific Recommendations
The Plan outlines capital improvement recommendations for each park within the City.
These recommendations reflect a thorough assessment and review of every park, building on the community’s priorities for greater activation, comfort, and overall park experience. For five key parks-Leo J. Ryan, Boothbay, Edgewater, Sea Cloud, and Gull (the Beach Parks), recommendations are supported by conceptual designs which illustrate opportunities to enhance recreation amenities, comfort, and ecological function while preserving Foster City’s distinctive character.
Both system-wide and park-specific recommendations can be found in Chapter 4 of the Plan document entitled “Our Vision”.
Implementing Park Improvements
Implementing Foster City’s planned park improvements will require significant investment, making a clear phasing strategy essential. Phasing helps prioritize projects, align them with available funding, and deliver improvements in manageable, realistic stages. Projects are organized into clear project packages and assigned to one of three timeframes: 0–5 years, 6–10 years, and 11+ years, with a fourth category “Other Projects to Consider” for lower-priority or high-cost projects pursued as opportunities arise.
Phasing decisions are guided by three key factors:
Prioritization: The degree to which each proposed project aligns with the established evaluation criteria.
Cost: Overall affordability of each project that includes long-term operations and maintenance implications.
1 0
5 6
Efficiency: The potential to combine projects to reduce repeated disruptions, and leverage economies of scale.
More than 200 improvements were evaluated through a structured prioritization framework. High-ranking improvements commonly included comfort amenities, shade, upgraded landscaping, restrooms, and walking loops, while more specialized features tended to rank lower.
Cost considerations reflect both capital construction and ongoing maintenance needs, ensuring the City can support new facilities once implemented. Efficiency is improved by coordinating work within each park and grouping parks with similar needs to streamline project delivery.
Funding Strategies
The Plan outlines current funding sources available for Parks and Recreation projects including General Fund sources (Capital Investment, Equipment Replacement), Developer Contributions (Park Facilities Impact Fee, Park-in-Lieu), state and local grants, and private and regional partnerships. In addition, the Plan outlines potential funding strategies to expand the City’s funding toolbox beyond traditional sources.
These vary in terms of their applicability and benefit and include such things as assessment districts, naming and corporate sponsorships, a Parks and Recreation Foundation, and various bonding tools that the City has at its disposal. Adoption of the Plan enhances eligibility for programs such as the Land and Water Conservation Fund, California State Parks grants, and the San Francisco Bay Restoration Authority.
CEQA
This agenda item which is intended to provide a plan report to the Council is not subject to review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21000, et seq. and the CEQA Guidelines (14 Cal. Code Regs.
1 0
5 6
§§ 15000 et. seq.), including without limitation, Public Resources Code section 21065 and California Code of Regulations 15378 as this is not a "project" that may cause a direct, or reasonably foreseeable indirect, physical change in the environment as adoption of the Plan does not have any legally binding effect on later activities and does not involve approval of any specific project that may have a significant effect on the environment. Each project will be evaluated, and, as applicable, the appropriate level of environmental analysis conducted in accordance with CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no immediate fiscal impact associated with adoption of the Plan. Individual projects and recommendations will be fully scoped and vetted through the City’s annual budget process and the Capital Improvement Plan development. Implementation of recommendations will occur as funding becomes available and upon review and approval by the City Council.
CITY COUNCIL VISION, MISSION, AND VALUE/PRIORITY AREA
Facilities and Infrastructure; Community Engagement; Sustainability ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 - Resolution
Attachment 2 - Foster City Parks Master Plan Draft
Attachment 3 – Parks Master Plan Presentation
LINKS:
Foster City Parks Master Plan Appendices Draft