The San Mateo Parks and Recreation Department is asking residents to help brainstorm the future of the Beresford Park playground at a meeting on Valentine's Day.
The first meeting, slated to take place from 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m., will utilize the help of Beresford Elementary fifth graders as the city aims to rebuild the playground, city officials announced Monday.
Kicking off the first of four educational sessions, the students will visit, sketch and learn about playground design.
The parks department is eager to learn what fifth graders – a key user of the playground – think are the elements of a great playground redesign, city officials said.
The session on Thursday will take place on-site at Beresford Park playground, 2720 Alameda de las Pulgas, 94403.
The parks department has received and budgeted park improvement funding for the Beresford Park playground. This 22 year old playground has served Beresford Park well, but urgently needs a renovation, according to city officials.
The city has budgeted about $1.3 million to make improvements to the playground, pathways and landscaping around the playground areas at Beresford Park.
In an effort to gain insight from the park’s main user – children – the parks department, with the help of 45 Beresford Elementary School fifth graders, will engage in educational sessions aimed at students learning about and sharing insight in park planning, design, amenity prioritization, peer surveys, and how to make playground recommendations to the city of San Mateo.
“We not only want a playground with great play equipment. We want a playground that conveys a sense of place,” Sheila Canzian, Director of Parks and Recreation, said in a statement.
“I don’t think there is any better group to help us understand the importance of playgrounds and the sense of place than children.”
The Department is also using a new online tool to gather feedback for busy parents who find it challenging to make public meetings.
Residents can log on to www.sanmateotownhall.org where they can select the “Beresford Park Playground Renovation Project” and share their opinions on how we can make this a great playground and community asset.
To learn more or to speak to a spokesperson for the project, please call the City of San Mateo, Parks and Recreation Administrative Office at 650.522.7400.
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