This has become one of my favorite places to kayak. Last year we purchased an inflatable tandem kayak and have been exploring different waterways in the peninsula. Parkside is awesome, they have clean bathrooms with a changing room. I can't recall if they have showers? There is a boat launch area...wahoo! Okay now the real talk, because this park is so amazing, parking fills up quickly. Many families come out here for BBQs and to just have their kids play on the playground or in the water. There is a ranger station onsite, they come out once and a while to check on the area. Heck they even manage the water via boat, we were told that we had kayaked into a private waters? We didn't know? Oh well! Despite some challenges, we are in love with this park. It's truly a gem. It's all free, you bring what you need to have fun. read more

Nice quiet secluded little beach with picnic tables, benches, and a couple of playgrounds for toddlers. But note that there are warning signs saying the bacteria level in the water is not safe for contact / swimming. read more

This review is actually for being on the other side of the water from the park, looking across at their facilities. In the residential neighborhoods across the lagoon there is a long walking path, which offer a view of this park. My sister-in-law told us about the boat rentals available there. It would be a pleasant area to be out on the water. There are numerous birds enjoying the space. We saw 7 white pelicans, which I didn't know existed in that coloration. Similar in size to swans, they definitely had pelican-like beaks. Maybe they are a different species? It was a beautiful place to walk and enjoy the vistas. I'm sure it would be fun to go boating and check out the other facilities at the park. read more

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This place is a great little getaway, without all the traffic (like going to Santa Cruz). The water was perfect for me, but my kids said it was a tad too cold. I'm sure older kids would like it. The water is very shallow, 5 feet deep maximum. There's a good amount of beach area but I'm sure on a weekend it would be a little more crowded. The bathrooms are super close by, my only negative is that there or no showers or rinse stations. The bathroom is very clean with several stalls. There are two playgrounds that are perfect for kids up to 10 years old. After that I think they would get bored. There are a few tables with bbq grills, some shaded, but they are further away from the beach (not more than 100 feet). On a weekday parking was great, but I've never been here on a weekend. I did see a few dogs on leash here, but there is no lifeguard on duty, so you have to swim at your own risk. They do have booties to show how far you are allowed to go out. The current was not strong at all, and a nine-year-old could probably stand up all the way to the buoy. This place is amazing for building sand castles/sculptures and moats. The star taken away is for not having a rinsing station and the amount of trash that litters the ground, it is obviously from people who disrespect the earth and throw confetti. I know it is not the park's fault, but maybe some more supervision here would prevent that excess of trash. I wouldn't be 100% comfortable walking around without sandals due to concerns of glass laying around. With all that said, I will definitely come here again. read more

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Water can be a bit dirty but it's a nice little park with most of the time it being not super busy

This is a neighborhood lagoon faux-beach tucked away in a residential area. If you come here early, there's always plenty of parking but by noon, spaces fill up -- lots of families come to grill and let their kids play. The two playground structures are pretty old and small, probably good for kids under 5. The sand itself is hard and dry and on a windy day, your umbrella canopy will likely not stay in place. I love that parking is conveniently a few feet away so that you can easily unload all the beach gear and set up. Also love the VERY CLEAN bathrooms! But what is really disappointing is the algae in the water -- it's pretty gross and I wouldn't want my kiddo playing in the water, even though there are plenty of people just swimming neck deep in the lagoon... it's a nice faux-beach idea but unfortunately isn't as nice as the beach Also watch out for lots of birds poop everywhere... read more

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Great place for some fun! My almost 2 yr old love it because of the calm water he got to play in. They even got a playground. The only thing I wish they had was a rinse off station. read more

A great place to have a BBQ by the water! The park has plenty of BBQ grills, benches, and parking spots!! People love to come here for the little beach and to relax on the sand. The park is spacious enough that it doesn't get too crowded. Dogs are welcomed here!! Make sure to bring a jacket! It gets pretty windy and chilly throughout the day. There's security walking around to make sure everyone is playing safely and abiding to the park rules (no glass bottles allowed). Overall, great place to bring your family and pets! read more

Parkside Aquatic Park - Parks Near Me - San Mateo, California

I love this park! Small and not a-lot of people. Not as cold or crowded as going to the beach. Kids loved it! The water is shallow and they get to play with the sand, my son loved it! So much fun! read more

This is perhaps my favorite park. The bathrooms are clean (by public park standards). There are BBQ grills, a safe beach area for kids and awesome play structure. The major cons are the parking lot fills up on weekends and there are no showers. Be sure to check the water quality before letting the kids swim read more

Free parking. Great safe beach area for kids to play and not get pulled out to sea. They have picnic tables and bbq pits, I believe these are first come first serve. Nice little playground on the beach also read more

We never knew this expansive park existed until attending a birthday party here. This is a popular park, and I could see why, especially on a hot day. Features include: * Beach for swimming with sand and everything (I have no idea about the water quality) http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/eNaa9ki-jiLHI-qEWUH-7w?select=OZUO774lhIYbC3l0pDPcCA#ArT0vbIky7FvWFpPoIerEw * Playground http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/eNaa9ki-jiLHI-qEWUH-7w?select=OZUO774lhIYbC3l0pDPcCA#zyNvT72oGzvxNky96aegYg * Picnic areas http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/eNaa9ki-jiLHI-qEWUH-7w?select=OZUO774lhIYbC3l0pDPcCA#Z_kCycMY5paZta3uPUG1FA * Boating with launch ramp * Restrooms * Parking lot http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/eNaa9ki-jiLHI-qEWUH-7w?select=OZUO774lhIYbC3l0pDPcCA#95T6FfsegLGpD36FoxWCKw The day we were here, the lot got full and we needed to park in the nearby neighborhood, which wasn't a problem. There were several dogs on leash. Parents need to keep a watchful eye on their little ones, as they can rush into the water without any fence keeping them away from the water's edge. read more

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POOP everywhere. Let me say that again, POOP galore. On the sidewalk, on the sand, in the water. This is the most disgusting beach I have ever been to in my 40 years of life. It all looked so promising for my two young boys, especially during this time of shelter in place, but wow, never going back again. This is a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. read more

I have been coming to this park for various reasons for quite a few years now. From babysitting to now bringing my own daughter, this park is always clean and quiet. They have a nice play structure and a clean sandy beach with water you can even go in. I recommend this park to anyone in the area. Only thing is that its in a residential neighborhood so you may want to look up the directions carefully! Also, the Fish Market is just a few blocks away so you should hit up that spot too before or after enjoying the outdoors! read more

Awesome park! Wish I brought swimming clothes, will be going prepared next time on a hot day to go in the water.

We were really disappointed in this beach. The sand is dirty (rusted bottlecaps, etc. and dog poop), the water is dirty (lots of algae, more trash, water quality is poor), there were loner men who kept approaching children (including ours) to "play" and who stood outside the women's bathrooms for hours, and it just had an overall scuzzy vibe. It would be great to have a nice beach so close to home; however, this isn't it. I would recommend going elsewhere if you're looking for a fun day at the beach. read more

This would be the most amazing beach ever if it wasn't for the alge. The water temperature is perfect, and the playground is right on the beach. But the algae is everywhere.. it's slimy and the kids hated it!!! They were disappointed after an hour + drive. I tried to make a path to get in the water for them but it's even in the water all throughout the lake. We noticed a sign saying that there would be pesticides put in the lake tomorrow June 22nd, I assume to clear out algy? Maybe one day we can come back if the Algy is mostly gone. read more

Cute park on the water with a small beach! Picnic tables, kayaking and playground equipment. read more

Parkside Aquatic Park - Parks Near Me - San Mateo, California

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BEWARE SWIMMING AT THIS PARK My wife's mom's group raved about this park, with no mention of the risk. Many children (and some adults) were in the water today, despite bad water quality. It's easy to be unaware of the water quality problem. * As of this review, at least one county webpage says this park "features swimming", with no mention of the risk. * A warning sign at the park cites only the lack of lifeguard. * The special water quality signs at the park can be easy to miss. * Swimming buoys aren't removed when water quality is bad. * Water quality can be bad without being apparently so. To check this park's water quality, you can: * Look at one of the specific water quality signs. They're always there, with a removable section indicating the current water quality (like fire danger signs at parks). * Consult this webpage: http://smchealth.org/environ/beaches. The park itself is very nice; and, when safe, the water is delightful. But San Mateo County can easily and cheaply do a better job of communicating about the water quality. read more

Such a nice area for kids. There are trees, a sandy beach, picnic tables, and a playground area. I also heard the water was warm, but we were wondering where exactly it came from - the Bay? or was it more like a pond, because there was no obvious tide change? It was actually salty, so the Bay was the decided winner. Anyway. I came here for a kid's birthday party, for which the place seems quite popular. They needed to stake out the place at 6a...and for good reason - other people began arriving to claim space at 6:15. Yikes. As usual at parks, the bathrooms leave something to be desired. There are the things that can't be helped, like how the floors in all the stalls are really wet from the people coming in from the water (have to remind myself that that is, indeed, what it is). And how the faucets are the kind that you have to push down and keep held down for any water to come out. However, I will hand it to them that there were tp, soap, AND paper towels available. Right before we left, I saw that one of the women in our group had a huge green caterpillar in her hands, and it was actually WRITHING. This was not a normal little caterpillar that walks around. It reminded me of the thing in Pan's Labyrinth with the eyes in its hands, I think because it looked like a little green sock had been pulled over its body. "It'll be a pretty butterfly someday." read more

This place is so cute! We recently took our son here to experience his first park and it was a great time. I'd never been here before but it looks like a great place to throw a party. Quite a few picnic tables with bbq grills, a grassy area, two play structures, and the sandy beach water front where you can actually bring a canoe or kayak! We definitely will be hosting a birthday party or two at this place =) read more

I've lived in the Peninsula for 12 years and have been asking everyone where can you find some Bay side of the water beach? For some unknown reason, whomever does the planning of these communities never left any real, sandy beaches for people to use. I think the horrible, bacteria ridden water might have something to do with it. Whether the little strip of sandy beach is clean or not (I'm suggesting not, it's very small with lots of pooping seagulls on it and God knows what), it is on a manmade lagoon, which means it's going to be stagnant and it is. I went for the first time last week and saw many families making use of the playground and even some in the water (which they clearly shouldn't have been according to the warning signs of the bacteria). Much of the beach is cordoned off, and some of the landing piers as well that are in disrepair. On the other side of the park, they have very interesting, private like picnic areas and some people were starting a BBQ party. I don't see anyone mentioning when the snack bar and rentals open, but I'm hoping to take children here this summer for some local (not having to drive all the way to HMB in major traffic) fun. read more

We loved this place. Water. Sand. Shade. Grass. Bathrooms. Parking. Snack shop. Playgrounds. BBQ pits. Benches. Picnic tables. What more could you need?! We will definitely come back soon. Great day trip for our toddler. read more

Parkside Aquatic Park - Clean sand and shallow water. Great for little ones! - Parks Near Me - San Mateo, California

Good concept of a park but the water is very nasty. If you don't mind avoiding algae swimming around you and maybe a bit of duck poop then this will be fun. The actual sand on the sore of the water is hard and dirty. (Doesn't help that I witness a little kid being told by his family to just pee on the sand in front of where I was sitting). The playground portion is nice but because there is no shade over it, it gets extremely hot for kids to play on. It's located in a weird area, almost hidden in a residential street. And there always seems to attract loner men by the restroom which is unnerving, especially with so many kids around. If there were improvements and the water kept clean this would be a good family water park. read more

I was here for the first time today with a 5 year old and a 3 year old, and they seemed to enjoy the sand, water, and play structure. Make sure to check the water quality before going in for a swim..there are signs to let you know if bacteria growth is high. Parking was easy and free. I'll have to go back again to see if the crowd changes. On a Friday summer afternoon it was crowded, with big kids / young adults dropping loud F* bombs all over the place and generally yelling other profanities in front of young children. It became uncomfortable so we packed up and left after 40 minutes. I got the impression that these folks spend a lot of time at this park tho', so not sure I really want to attempt another visit. read more

Tried this beach out last weekend and loved it. Perfect for our toddler to play in. The water advisory was all clear to go in the water, and the clarity was actually pretty good. We're heading back tomorrow with friends. Free parking too! read more

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well, the pictures looked great and the friend recommendation was very positive. I think this park is just for swimming and kids who love the playground. Maybe about 5 years ago my kids would have LOVED it. We Just came here to find some sun and sit by the water. However, the beach area was very small. There was duck poop everywhere... we tried to walk down further to sit in the grass... only to find poop there too and wet grass. The grass was muddy and it got all over the place. It was only ok in my view. Seemed pretty dirty. read more

We came today because it was so hot and we thought we'd try a bay beach because the pools aren't really open yet. I had read the reviews and thought it might be worth a try for some wading and play for my toddlers. However, when we arrived we saw a few signs posted warning against any water contact. On further investigation there was sewage contamination and they warned against getting in the water for flu-like symptoms and worse. Also, by the shore there was a lot of fecal matter- from birds. Kind of gross. So- buzz kill- we ended up playing on the playground for a bit- digging in the sand, and then going home and putting out our kiddie pool, so it ended up not being a complete waste- but still a bit of a waste of time. read more

I recently discovered this place and I love it. I have two toddlers and this a great spot to bring them when I am trying to get out of the FOG. The park is clean with a wonderful beach and 2 playgrounds feet away from the shoreline. Both playgrounds seem very new and nice, no rotting wood or splinters in sight. One playground is for the smaller ones and the other playground it suitable for the bigger kids, both play areas are feet away from each other so you can keep an eye on both play areas. They have picnic areas, bbq grills, and plenty of shady spots under the trees. There are bathrooms very close by that are reasonably clean at least for a beach bathrooms. Parking is very easy and convenient. I really like that since this place in part of the Foster city water way the beach is calm and gentle. I felt very comfortable letting my kids play at the shore without the normal feeling of looming death from a big wave or rip current. Yay, we will be coming for many years to come. read more

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I almost don't want to leave a review because I don't want people to find this place. It's the perfect beach for kids. Short walk from the car, there are 2 play structures for kids of various ages, not crowded at all, so plenty of room for ball playing, and there is also a snack bar, bathrooms, and kayak rental. Perfect. No warnings about the water quality today - tons of kids were swimming. read more

Just leaving this park. Giving this a star for trying, but this park is gross and dirty. Maybe its better in the summer?

A nice little park along the water. We had the picnic section to the far left with nice shade. The grills are small, though, with only one table at each grill. Otherwise, it was a very nice space for our picnic. read more

What a hidden treasure right in (practically) our backyard. I will definitely keep this place in mind for a hot summer get together BBQ. Will come back again with my bathing suit next time! read more

To be straight forward, if the water wasn't so terrifying I'd probably give the park five stars.

This park is pretty nice. The only major complaint is the currently playground equipment is small and doesn't offer a lot. They are building a new piece of equipment, but it is taped off and for the month I have been going there, there doesn't seem to be any change yet. The beach is okay. They do have a problem with birds there so there is some poop, but manageable. The water is warm and doesn't get very deep so there is ample space for small ones to play without worry of going too far or too deep. It is very popular, especially for picnics, but I believe on the other end of the park is an area you can reserve. read more

always loved this place ever since i was young. Looks small now since I'm older but its ok because my daughter loves this place too now. Drive down here from sf just for the peaceful and relaxing atmosphere. read more

Quite, peaceful, beautiful park by the water, best kept secret in San Mateo.

The beach has the worst imaginable bacteria level all year around - see Heal the Bay's Beach Report http://www.healthebay.org/assets/pdfdocs/brc/annual/2010/HtB_BRC_Annual_2010_Report.pdf page 73 - the only place in San Mateo county with all F marks. Page 32: "The County's only poor grades during summer dry weather were found at Aquatic Park (F) and at Lakeshore Park behind the Recreation Center (D). Water samples at these small beaches are taken directly from the Foster City lagoon which has sporadic water circulation." read more

Fun little place in Foster City. Not too crowded on the weekends. Wish there was a dedicated outdoor shower for sand washing but the portable water station worked well enough. Fun place to play in the sand for little ones. read more

I took my 2 year old here. He had a great time. There were no waves which was great to introduce your kid to the beach. There are 2 play area which he also like. The beach is dirty and people should pick up after themselves. Overall I would recommend this beach to younger kids. read more