SAN MATEO COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION FOUNDATION

Sine 1999, the San Mateo County Parks and Recreation Foundation has raised almost $9 million in contributions to support a variety of programs and projects in San Mateo County Parks. $2 million was raised to help purchase the coast bluff, Mirada Surf, to allow the California Coastal Trail segment be completed. To further community involvement in the parks, we provide an annual grant to support the volunteer and interpretive programs. Supporting improvements for the youth facilities, grants were provided for playgrounds and improvements at a day-camp site. We also funded new recycling stations in the County Parks and improvements to the Sanchez Adobe Historic Site. Recognizing the importance of native habitats, funds are continually granted for efforts to remove non-native invasive weeds, replant and restore areas and restore fish habitat. Environmental education is a high priority for the community, so we fund a program to provide a teacher's resource guide to the County Parks and supporting materials such as field guides. A major focus for the Foundation is establishing interpretive centers to support the on-going programs in Edgewood County Park and Natural Preserve and Fitzgerald Marine Reserve. Other efforts this year include working with the community to secure a long-term funding source for all parks in San Mateo County.