Washington Park - An Old Family Friend

In the Burlingables neighborhood (on Burlingame and Carolan Avenues), sits Washington Park, the oldest park in Burlingame. There are tennis courts, a children’s playground, picnic areas and a baseball field, which makes the park a year-round center for community recreation. In the summer the park offers free movies on the baseball field on Friday nights, and on Sundays in July, bring the whole family for an afternoon of music.

The park also has historical significance, having been built on the site of the former Gunst Estate. Moses Gunst was a wealthy cigar retailer who was also Police Commissioner in San Francisco in 1895. In 1904 Gunst purchased his land and built a mansion in Burlingame. In 1940, the city bought the estate for $30,000 to expand the existing 10-acre Washington Park. The mansion, which was included in the purchase, was used as a community center until 1960, when it was destroyed. The former carriage house still exists, and the Burlingame Historical Society is housed there.