Editing San Mateo, California (section)

====Downtown====
San Mateo has one of the larger, better-developed suburban downtowns in the [[San Francisco Bay Area]]. It is located roughly between Tilton Ave. to the northwest, 9th Ave. to the southeast, Delaware St. to the northeast and [[El Camino Real (California)|El Camino Real]] to the southwest. The downtown core contains over 800 shops and restaurants, many located in historic buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The non-profit Downtown San Mateo Association (DSMA) works on behalf of downtown businesses to promote them and improve the downtown area.<ref>{{cite web|title=Downtown San Mateo Association|url=https://www.smccvb.com/listing/downtown-san-mateo-association/2937/|access-date=December 4, 2021|website=Smccvb.com|language=en-us}}</ref>

[[File:National Bank of San Mateo, 164 S. B St., San Mateo, CA 9-5-2011 2-54-48 PM.JPG|thumb|right|The historic National Bank of San Mateo, located in downtown]]

[[Central Park (San Mateo)|Central Park]] is considered to be San Mateo's signature park with a baseball field, tennis courts, sculptures, picnic areas, playground, Japanese tea garden, recreation center, miniature train, rose garden and the [[San Mateo Arboretum]]. The {{convert|16.3|acre|ha|adj=on}} property was purchased by the city in 1922.<ref>{{cite web|title=Central Park and Japanese Garden {{!}} San Mateo, CA - Official Website|url=https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/3319/Central-Park-Japanese-Garden|access-date=December 4, 2021|website=Cityofsanmateo.org}}</ref> A historically influential area for the Japanese-American community, the downtown is home to many Japanese restaurants and shops. A large, 12-screen movie theater complex is located off the Main Street alley between 2nd and 3rd Ave. The [[San Mateo Caltrain station]] is situated downtown. The area also contains many large and small multi-story office buildings, apartments, government buildings and Mills Medical Center.

Segments of South B Street between 1st and 3rd Ave. and the southbound lane between Baldwin and 1st Ave. were temporarily closed to vehicular traffic in 2020 to allow for expanded outdoor dining.<ref>{{cite web|title=Downtown B Street Closures {{!}} San Mateo, CA - Official Website|url=https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/4448/Downtown-B-Street-Closures|access-date=December 4, 2021|website=Cityofsanmateo.org}}</ref> The San Mateo City Council extended the temporary closure through the end of 2021 and voted in September 2021 to create a permanent pedestrian mall between 1st and 3rd Ave.<ref>{{cite web|last=staff|first=Curtis Driscoll Daily Journal|title=San Mateo OKs pedestrian malls|url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/san-mateo-oks-pedestrian-malls/article_bfa585ce-1c23-11ec-b21d-c79caad1dc4c.html|access-date=December 4, 2021|website=San Mateo Daily Journal|language=en}}</ref> The plan requires a {{convert|12|ft|m|adj=on}} fire lane in the center of the street for public safety vehicles and necessary garbage or delivery services. The city aims to conduct the project in two phases: First, by installing retractable bollards and updating traffic signals and signage, then by raising the level of the street to be flush with sidewalk and reimagining its landscaping.