Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project
To translate this page/Traducir esta página: 
Project Overview
The Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project will expand and increase outdoor recreation opportunities at Pickleweed Park, located at 50 Canal Street, San Rafael CA. The project is a major initiative aimed at revitalizing one of the city’s most beloved recreational spaces. The project will replace the existing, heavily used sports field with an all-weather turf field that will be usable year-round. The current field requires a six-month inactivity period of the sports field for restoration work.
This project has been a community priority for more than 15 years. During this time, extensive community outreach has guided the proposed enhancements to meet community needs and interests. The project is made possible by a $4.24M National Park Service Land and Water Conservation Fund grant and local City funding. In addition to replacing the sports field, the project will enhance the park by installing a new outdoor basketball court, adding new playground features for children under five, installing new fitness equipment for adults and a new gazebo with shaded seating, replacing the park restroom building, improving park lighting, and adding new planting areas that focus on native species.
Construction began in September 2024, and is expected to be completed by Summer 2025. During this time, portions of Pickleweed Park will be closed.
Key Features of the Enhancement Project Include:
- Improved Sports Facilities: The soccer fields will be resurfaced with all-weather turf that will be accessible year-round. The current field requires prolonged closures to accommodate maintenance and weather impacts. Additionally, this project will install a new outdoor basketball court.
- Upgraded Playground Facilities and Adult Exercise Equipment: A new play area designed for children ages 2-5 will be installed to supplement the existing play structures. Additionally, an adult exercise equipment station will be installed.
- Enhanced Accessibility: Pathways and entrances will be upgraded to ensure ADA compliance, making the park more accessible to everyone in the community.
- New Gazebo Picnic Area: A new gazebo will be installed near the soccer field, offering community members new options for gatherings and events.
- New Park Restroom: A new park restroom will be installed that will improve the health and sanitation of the park.
- Sustainable Landscaping: Native plants and drought-resistant landscaping will be incorporated to promote environmental sustainability and reduce water usage.
- Expanded Parking: The existing parking lot will be expanded to add 18 much-needed additional parking stalls.
Timeline
| Prior to 2022 | 15+ Years of community outreach and engagement; numerous funding applications, outreach events, and surveys |
| July 2022 | Received notification from California State Parks that the Pickleweed Project was recommended for LWCF funding |
| July 2022 – January 2023 | City Staff worked with California State Parks on completing federal grant requirement processes |
| April 1st, 2023 | Outreach Event at Pickleweed Park/Albert J Boro Community Center - Spring Egg Hunt conducted by Voces del Canal |
| April 5th, 2023 | Pickleweed Advisory Committee Meeting Presentation |
| April 8th, 2023 | Outreach Event at Pickleweed Park/Albert J Boro Community Center - Spring Egg Hunt conducted by the Canal Youth & Family Council |
| April 20th, 2023 | Park and Recreation Commission Meeting Presentation |
| September 2023 | National Park Service approved LWCF funding recommendation |
| September 2024 | Start of Construction |
| Summer 2025 | Estimated Project Completion |
Project contact
Theo Sanchez, PE | Associate Civil Engineer
Theo.Sanchez@cityofsanrafael.org
415.458.5326
Community Engagement and Outreach
The Pickleweed Park Enhancement Project has been a community priority for over 15 years. Since 2010, the City has applied for funding multiple times and conducted extensive community outreach to refine the proposed enhancements. In 2020, the City held various community events, in partnership with the Canal Alliance and the Multicultural Center of Marin, to gather input on desired amenities. Feedback was also collected through two food distribution events and a youth event, as well as an online survey completed by 294 community members. The results informed the project's conceptual plans, which were further refined through additional community events in 2022.
In 2022, the City was awarded a $4.24M National Park Service Land and Water Conservation Fund grant, creating a path forward for the project, which aims to ensure that Pickleweed Park remains a welcoming and inclusive space for all. In Winter 2022, the City hired the design firm Gates + Associates to develop construction documents based on the feedback received during initial community outreach. In March 2023, an online survey was launched to gather opinions on equipment styles, complemented by two pop-up events during Spring Egg Hunts, engaging over 280 community members. The community’s preferences have been integrated into the final design.
On April 5, 2023, a project update was presented to the Pickleweed Advisory Committee, followed by a presentation to the Park and Recreation Commission on April 20. These updates included survey results and recommendations based on community interests. Additionally, a Citywide Park and Recreation Master Plan, completed in April 2023, emphasized the importance of the Pickleweed Park project, reaffirming it as a high priority for the San Rafael community within the next five years.
We're grateful for all of the community insight, thoughts, and support for this project!