Grand Opening of Karyl Matsumoto Plaza
Published on September 03, 2024
New Caltrain station plaza named in honor of former Mayor and City Councilmember
The City of South San Francisco is proud to announce the grand opening of the Karyl Matsumoto Plaza on September 21. This new plaza, located adjacent to the South San Francisco Caltrain Station, honors the legacy of former Mayor and Councilmember Karyl Matsumoto, who made transformative contributions to the city during her tenure.
Karyl Matsumoto served on the City Council from 1997 to 2020 and was instrumental in spearheading numerous projects that have shaped the modern landscape of South San Francisco. Her vision and leadership helped drive key infrastructure improvements, including the enhancement of our transit system and the development of vibrant public spaces that continue to benefit residents and visitors alike.
The opening ceremony will take place at 9:00 a.m. and will feature a range of activities, including a ribbon-cutting event, remarks from City officials, and a community celebration. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the plaza, which features an art piece that embodies aspects of South San Francisco’s identity by Ride Art Studio of Berkeley, California.
“This plaza stands as a testament to Karyl Matsumoto’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the quality of life in South San Francisco,” said City Manager Sharon Ranals. “Her vision for a more connected and vibrant city has left an indelible mark on our community, and we are honored to celebrate her legacy with this new public space.”
The Karyl Matsumoto Plaza will serve as a focal point for community gatherings and a welcoming space for travelers arriving in our city. It reflects the City’s ongoing commitment to investing in public infrastructure and celebrating the contributions of those who have shaped the South San Francisco community.
Karyl Matsumoto’s background, knowledge of and passion for public transportation, public art, and community are exemplified by her advocacy for this partnership project with the San Mateo County Transportation District (SamTrans) and Transportation Authority (TA).
During her long tenure on City Council, she was the first five-time Mayor, first elected Asian and the second woman to serve on Council. Ms. Matsumoto also served on the Boards of SamTrans and TA representing the North County, and was on the City/County Association of Governments Board representing South San Francisco, SamTrans, and the TA. She was relentless in advocating for funding to rebuild South San Francisco’s train station thus making it safer, more efficient, and accessible to riders. The Caltrain station was finally redesigned by 2017, removing the dangerous holdout track and making the station accessible from both the east and west side of the city and provide a safe route for pedestrians and bicyclists to cross Highway 101. With the previous goals accomplished, she continued to advocate for the project and was successful in her support for design upgrades. The City Council authorized two separate funding amendments to improve the design and appearance of the station and plaza and established the Caltrain Plaza Art Selection Committee of which Ms. Matsumoto was a member.
During her 40-year residency in South San Francisco, Karyl served on over 30 boards, commissions, and committees. She founded the Orange Memorial Park Sculpture Garden and was an initial member of the Cultural Arts Commission which guided this project.
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About the City of South San Francisco
The City of South San Francisco proudly remains The Industrial City, a reflection of its steel mill and ship building past, redefined to reflect the innovative, entrepreneurial, and industrious spirit which has made South San Francisco the Biotech Capital of the World, with 217 active biotech companies and growing. A vibrant community of 66,185 residents, South San Francisco enjoys a high quality of life with an extensive public parks system, active library and learning programming and a dynamic, engaged community making South San Francisco a great place to live, learn, work, and play.