Genentech Public Park Project. (Greg Mediati, Director of Parks and Recreation)

Summary

This item concerns the Genentech Public Park Project, a new public park to be built on Genentech's bayfront property in South San Francisco as part of their 2020 Master Plan development agreement. The park will be a minimum of 0.8 acres and is planned for construction to begin within 12 months of design approval by the Parks and Recreation Commission. The existing site is primarily a Genentech employee parking lot with 7 public parking spaces and some picnic areas. The project goals include creating a resilient landscape to protect from sea-level rise, improving public access and amenities, and incorporating artful design. Community input was gathered through two outreach events on September 20, 2025, and November 22, 2025, to inform the concept design. The proposed concept includes features like a windscreened terrace seating area, an overlook/viewing deck, a large picnic area with a shade structure, shoreline and fishing access, fringing tidal marsh, an interactive sculptural feature, and an 18-foot wide Bay Trail. The design explicitly plans for sea-level rise, with a design flood elevation of +14.3' for 2070 and plans to adapt to +16.0' by 2100 through options like flood walls or raising the Bay Trail. The project timeline indicates concept design completion by February 2026, with construction starting no later than one year after Parks and Recreation Commission approval.

Citizen Impact

Residents will gain a new public park with improved amenities including picnic areas, seating, shoreline access, and a wider Bay Trail. The park is designed to be resilient to sea-level rise, ensuring long-term usability for the community.

Confidence

high