MARTINEZ, Contra Costa County — October 25, 2026. What should Martinez’s parks look like over the next 15 years? The city is working on a new Park System Master Plan meant to help guide improvements, accessibility, maintenance, trails and future investments. The plan is still in development; it should not be confused with a council-approved construction budget for every park.
What residents told the city
The city’s first public-engagement round recorded 969 online survey responses and more than 180 community-session attendees, according to the master plan project page. Officials say approximately 70 percent of survey respondents visited a park weekly and that maintenance and upkeep were selected as major priorities by nearly 70 percent. These percentages describe people who took part in the survey; they are not a census of all Martinez residents.
Other themes included walking and hiking connections, amenities for families, access to nature, and different opportunities for recreation. Waterfront Park was identified as the most frequently visited park among respondents. Residents also expressed interest in splash pads, natural play, dog parks and cycling-related amenities. Those interests are requests and possibilities, not commitments to construct all of them.
What happened at the September council workshop?
Martinez invited the public to a September 2 council workshop to review initial findings and draft recommendations. City information says the process has evaluated 16 parks and picnic areas, open spaces, the Downtown Plaza and community recreation facilities. The meeting is already in the past as of this report; readers can consult agendas and workshop materials to determine what officials discussed rather than assume a plan was adopted at that workshop.
What comes next?
The official schedule identifies fall 2026 public review of the draft and a tentative winter 2026 council adoption. Staff are also reviewing ADA accessibility, parking and connections, maintenance needs, cost estimates and potential phases of implementation. The timing may change, and adoption of a master plan by itself would not fund every project or award construction contracts.
Community members who want to comment should follow the city project webpage for the latest schedule and released documents. The Engineering Department lists 925-372-3516 and engineering@cityofmartinez.org. Questions for a particular neighborhood should name the park, needed repair or access concern.
Sources: City of Martinez 2026 Park System Master Plan project record and August 20 workshop announcement, checked October 25, 2026. California58 has not performed an independent facilities inspection or treated proposed amenities as funded construction.
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