Join San Mateo Forward for a walking tour through one of the Bay Area's most remarkable urban transformations—a neighborhood that didn't exist 20 years ago, built from scratch on the former grounds of a horse racing track.

What to Expect

Bay Meadows is San Mateo's living laboratory for transit-oriented development. Over the course of this guided tour, you'll explore the neighborhood with knowledgeable speakers who will bring its story to life. As we walk together, you'll learn about:

• How it started: the decline of the Bay Meadows Racetrack and the contentious fight over what would replace it
• The vision and the obstacles: How developers, city officials, and community members negotiated the plan—in spite of a small group of NIMBYs stalling the project for years with lawsuits and appeals
• What got built: 1,100 homes, 18 acres of parks, world-class public art, and a walkable commercial district anchored to the Hillsdale Caltrain station
• Lessons for San Mateo's future: What Bay Meadows teaches us about what's possible when a city commits to smart infill development and what we should be demanding elsewhere

We're honored to be joined by former San Mateo Mayor John "Jack" Matthews, who will offer firsthand historical perspective on the political and civic journey of bringing an entirely new neighborhood to life inside city limits.

Why Join?

Bay Meadows just reached a milestone: the final two commercial parcels were leased last month, capping a 20+ year buildout that has become a model for Bay Area mega-redevelopments.

There's no better moment to walk the neighborhood, understand what it took to get here, and ask: where does San Mateo do this next?

Whether you're a longtime resident, a housing advocate, or someone who just loves cities, this tour offers a rare ground-level look at what ambitious, transit-first development actually looks like when it's done.

Come walk with us and see what San Mateo is capable of.

Comfortable walking shoes recommended. Tour covers approximately 1 mile over 1 hour.