A Guide to Redwood Shores, CA Parks
Redwood Shores sits on a stunning peninsula framed by navigable lagoons, peaceful wetlands, and views of San Francisco Bay. This master-planned community is defined by its parks and trail network — from the family activity hub at Marlin Park to shorebird habitat at Shorebird Park to wooded hiking at Stulsaft. This guide covers every major park and what makes each one worth knowing before you buy.
Parks in Redwood Shores, CA — Complete Guide
- 1Marlin Park11 acres, Neptune Dr. & Cringle Dr. Playground, tot lot, lagoon kayak launch, sports fields. Family activity hub of the Shores.
- 2Sandpiper ParkRedwood Shores Pkwy & Egret Lane. Lighted tennis, basketball, soccer fields. Adjacent to Sandpiper School. Community cornerstone.
- 3Shorebird Park607 Marine Pkwy. Waterfront walking trails, shorebird and egret habitat, tennis courts. Most serene park in the community.
- 4Redwood Shores Lagoon19 miles of navigable waterways. No gas-powered boats. Kayaking, rowing, windsurfing, Bay Trail segments. Defines the community lifestyle.
- 5Stulsaft Park3737 Farm Hill Blvd, Redwood City. 42 acres, wooded hiking trails, summer water features. Best nearby escape to natural terrain.
Redwood Shores has four community parks plus direct access to the 19-mile lagoon system that defines the neighborhood. Marlin Park (11 acres, Neptune Dr.) is the primary family hub with lagoon kayak access. Sandpiper Park (Redwood Shores Pkwy & Egret Lane) anchors the school zone with lighted courts and sports fields. Shorebird Park (607 Marine Pkwy) offers the most serene waterfront walking and birdwatching. The Redwood Shores Lagoon itself — accessible from multiple points throughout the community — is the defining outdoor amenity, with 19 miles of navigable water for kayaking, rowing, and windsurfing. Stulsaft Park in nearby Redwood City hills adds wooded hiking within a short drive.
Living the Lagoon Life
Many of the parks featured in this guide are the literal backyards of Redwood Shores residents. Interested in seeing which homes offer direct access to these trails and waterways?
Browse Redwood Shores ListingsShorebird Park
607 Marine Pkwy, Redwood City
Shorebird Park is a serene haven nestled along the scenic waterfront. The park’s walking trails wind through beautifully landscaped green spaces, providing a tranquil setting that defines the character of the Redwood Shores community. Graceful egrets and migratory shorebirds are frequently spotted along the water’s edge.
The unlighted tennis courts offer a quiet setting for a match with neighbors, wind-protected and just steps from residential enclaves. Shorebird Park is the calmest and most nature-oriented of the community’s parks — the right choice for morning walks and birdwatching rather than active sports programming.
Active Living at Marlin Park
Neptune Dr. and Cringle Dr., Redwood City
Marlin Park is the social and recreational hub of Redwood Shores. At 11 acres, it is thoughtfully designed to accommodate all ages — a large playground with a separate tot lot, sports facilities for older kids and adults, and direct visual access to the lagoon system where visitors can launch kayaks or paddleboards.
The peaceful lagoon waters here create a harmonious blend of active recreation and nature observation. For families evaluating homes for sale in Redwood Shores, proximity to Marlin Park is one of the most consistently cited quality-of-life priorities at closing.
The Redwood Shores Lagoon
The Heart of the Shores
The Lagoon is the defining outdoor amenity of Redwood Shores — 19 miles of navigable waterways running through the community. Gas-powered boats are prohibited, ensuring the waters remain calm and quiet for rowing, windsurfing, and sailing. The no-motor rule is one of the reasons the lagoon community has retained its serene character over decades.
The Bay Trail segments that skirt the lagoon invite jogging and cycling alongside the water. Lagoon-front homes command a persistent premium over equivalent inland properties — the water access and views are genuinely irreplaceable within the community.
Sandpiper Park: A Family Cornerstone
Redwood Shores Parkway & Egret Lane
Located adjacent to the top-rated Sandpiper School, Sandpiper Park is the community’s most active sports destination. Lighted tennis courts, basketball courts, and expansive soccer fields make it a primary gathering spot for families year-round. The lighting extends the usable hours well into the evening — a practical feature that Shorebird Park’s unlighted courts lack.
Its central location on Redwood Shores Parkway makes it the most visible and accessible park in the community, functioning as the neighborhood’s civic green as much as a recreation facility.
Stulsaft Park: Nearby Nature
3737 Farm Hill Blvd, Redwood City — ~10 minutes from Redwood Shores
While located in the nearby hills, Stulsaft Park is the essential hiking counterpoint to Redwood Shores’ flat lagoon landscape. At 42 acres, it offers shaded woodland trails, creek crossings, and a genuine sense of backcountry terrain minutes from the Peninsula corridor. The contrast with the flat, manicured community parks is dramatic — and precisely why Stulsaft has become a favorite weekend destination for Shores residents who want elevation and tree cover.
The interactive summer water features make it a family destination on hot Bay days. Whether you’re exploring the shaded trails or watching kids play in the water, Stulsaft highlights the San Mateo County lifestyle diversity available within a short drive of Redwood Shores.
Frequently Asked Questions About Redwood Shores Parks
Redwood Shores has four community parks: Shorebird Park (607 Marine Pkwy, waterfront walking and birdwatching), Marlin Park (Neptune Dr. & Cringle Dr., 11 acres, family hub with lagoon kayak access), Sandpiper Park (Redwood Shores Pkwy & Egret Lane, lighted courts and sports fields adjacent to Sandpiper School), and various pocket parks throughout the community. The 19-mile navigable lagoon system is accessible throughout the neighborhood. Stulsaft Park (3737 Farm Hill Blvd, Redwood City) is the nearest wooded hiking destination at approximately 10 minutes by car.
Yes — Redwood Shores is one of the only Peninsula communities where residents can kayak, canoe, row, and use electric boats directly from their neighborhood. The 19-mile lagoon system prohibits gas-powered boats, which keeps the water calm and quiet year-round. Marlin Park has a lagoon launch point. Many lagoon-front homes have private dock access for non-motorized watercraft. The Bay Trail also connects to San Francisco Bay for more open-water paddling.
Yes — Redwood Shores is consistently cited as one of the most family-friendly communities on the Peninsula. The combination of Sandpiper Park and Marlin Park for outdoor recreation, the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District K-8 ratings, the lagoon system for human-powered water activity, and the master-planned layout with low traffic density make it an extremely livable environment for families with children. The community center and school facilities reinforce a strong neighborhood character.
The San Francisco Bay Trail is a planned 500-mile multi-use trail circling the entire San Francisco Bay. The Redwood Shores segments run along the lagoon system and Bay shoreline, connecting to Foster City and Belmont to the north and Redwood City to the south. For Redwood Shores residents, the Bay Trail provides a continuous running, cycling, and walking path that integrates directly with the neighborhood’s lagoon system — one of the most distinctive outdoor amenities on the Peninsula.
Find Your Home in Redwood Shores
Ready to trade your neighborhood park for a backyard lagoon? Carmen Miranda is the local expert dedicated to finding the perfect property in this unique community — from lagoon-front homes in Shorebird Island to family-focused properties near Sandpiper Park.
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