Lawrie Duncan Park Pilot Project
The City initiated a pilot project at the intersection of Brewster Avenue and Nevada Street to address traffic safety concerns. As part of the project, the City closed Southgate Street between Brewster Avenue and Outer Circle (as shown in the pink-shaded area on the map). The space will be blocked off with temporary materials and used by the Redwood City Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department. Resident feedback will be considered in the decision-making process for future phases of the project.
The City has installed a new crosswalk at the intersection of Brewster Avenue and Nevada Street.
Lawrie M. Duncan Park History
"No businessman of Redwood City commands the confidence and respect of the public than Lawrie M. Duncan.” That is how the biography of the former city building inspector begins in the San Mateo County Biographical History.
In 1966, Bonita Parlor 10, Native Daughters of the Golden West, paid tribute to the late L. M. Duncan as part of its annual Arbor Day observance in the park area at Brewster Avenue and Nevada Street just a few hundred feet from the home on Nevada Street where Mr. Duncan lived with his wife at the time of his death in 1954.
School Superintendent Andrew Spinas, a longtime friend of Mr. Duncan's , was the chief speaker at the tree planting ceremonies. Mayor John S. Rosselli accepted the trees on behalf of the city.
Please see below for meeting dates, recaps and project updates.
Project Updates
Current Status - updated March 2026
The City completed an additional traffic study to review trip counts on the streets surrounding the Southgate closure. The trip counts per day continue to show an extremely low number of vehicle trips per day on Nevada St and Outer Circle even with the closure of Southgate. Neighbors on Southgate southwest of the closure reported significantly reduced traffic on their section of street also. After review of the data and feedback from neighbors, there does not appear to be increased traffic on streets around the closure.
The park features installed in the closure section have been met with positive feedback and the area has seen increased usage.
As a result of the feedback received at the in person meeting, through the online survey and through continued monitoring the closure will remain in place. The City will continue monitoring and review options for the future.
April 16, 2025 - Community Input Pop-up 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Join us for an opportunity to provide input on the future of Lawrie Duncan Park. The City has installed some temporary items to activate the space but is looking for additional input on other temporary features residents might like to test. (Note, no permanent style features can be installed at this time).
Feedback was also provided online through the following survey: (survey closed 4/30/25)
April 2025
The City will install some temporary features at Lawrie Duncan to activate the closed section.
March 26, 2025
The City installs temporary barricades to close Southgate St. and create a properly shaped 4 way intersection at Brewster and Nevada.