Update: We’re pleased to report that the Redwood City Council voted 4-3 not to cut parks funding. (The vote happened on June 24, postponed from June 10.) Thanks to everyone who emailed the City Council on this issue — your voice made a difference!

Thanks to all of you who emailed the Redwood City Council on May 6 asking them not to cut funding for parks. The Council did not end up voting on the park fees at that meeting, but they will be voting on Monday, June 10.

Please use the form below to email the Council once again to ask them not to cut funding for parks!

What’s Happening

On May 6, the Redwood City Council considered cutting park fees for new development, but the Council was not able to vote at that meeting because city staff had not prepared an official resolution to vote on. The vote will now be happening at the Monday, June 10 City Council meeting. If the Council votes to cut fees for this group of developers, the city could lose over $8 million in funding for Redwood City parks.

Redwood City is near the bottom of all the cities in San Mateo County in terms of how much parkland there is per capita. Park impact fees – which are paid by developers in order to mitigate the impact of their new development on city parks – will help the city buy land and turn it into new parks to benefit the growing population.

It’s important to note that these fees are only high enough to offset the burden that new development puts on the park system – they can’t be high enough to put the city in a better place than it was before the new development happened. That’s why it’s so important that park impact fees not be reduced, because this is the only way to ensure there’s enough parkland to accommodate all the new residents.

Why It Matters

Parks are necessary for a healthy and thriving community. The pandemic made it abundantly clear that people need to be able to get outside to relax, socialize and enjoy nature. Particularly for those who do not have private backyards, access to parks is a matter of equity.

Parks and urban green space provide tangible health benefits. Studies have shown that stress levels are lower and ADHD symptoms are reduced when people get out into nature. In addition, trees and other vegetation absorb carbon from the atmosphere, reduce air pollution, and lower temperatures on hot summer days.

Redwood City’s downtown is both the area where most new residential development is being constructed and one of the areas with the least amount of park space for those new residents. In order to ensure we have a thriving community, we need to fund our parks.

What You Can Do

Please use the form below to email the City Council before Monday, June 10 and tell them not to slash funding for parks!