by Michele Beasley
After 35 years of transforming San Mateo County’s parks and natural spaces, Senior Planner Sam Herzberg has retired—leaving behind a legacy that residents will literally walk, bike, and explore for generations to come.
The Trail Builder
If you’ve ever hiked Devil’s Slide Trail with its stunning ocean views, pedaled along Sawyer Camp Trail, or explored sections of the Bay Trail, you’ve experienced Sam’s work firsthand. He oversaw the design and construction of multiple segments of these beloved trails, turning ambitious visions into the paths that connect our communities to nature.
But his crowning achievement might be the Ohlone-Portolá Heritage Trail—California’s first State Historic Trail. Sam coordinated more than 60 federal, state, and local agencies to create this 90-mile journey that honors 10,000 years of Ohlone history and Gaspar de Portolá’s sighting of San Francisco Bay in 1769.
The Protector
Sam didn’t just build trails—he helped save entire landscapes. In the early 1990s, when Edgewood Park was slated to become a golf course, his constraints analysis revealed something extraordinary: 12 federally endangered species calling the park home. That golf course never happened. Instead, Edgewood became a Natural 
Preserve, protecting irreplaceable biodiversity.
He also fought to protect our coastline from offshore oil drilling, successfully lobbying to expand the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary to include San Mateo County’s shores. Thanks to that effort, places like Fitzgerald Marine Reserve remain pristine.
The Precedent-Setter
Some of Sam’s biggest wins happened in courtrooms. He co-authored California’s groundbreaking 1,000-foot Buffer Ordinance, which was challenged all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. When the Court declined to hear the case, it let stand a California precedent that gives local jurisdictions control over timber harvesting—a victory that still shapes land use policy today.
By the Numbers
The scope of Sam’s impact is staggering:
- $11 million in grants secured and managed
- 30+ capital improvement projects completed
- All 8 salmonid migration barriers in San Mateo County Parks removed, helping restore fish populations
Sam oversaw the completion and implementation of multiple plans, from Master Plans for Fitzgerald Marine Reserve, Coyote Point, and others, to the Regional Trail Plan, Midcoast Recreation Needs Assessment and Action Plan and the Highway 1 Safety and Mobility Improvement Plan, just to name a few. In 2017, his San Mateo County Parks Sustainable Action Plan was the recipient of a Sustainable San Mateo County award.
The Recognition
Sam’s work has earned him the Governor’s Leadership Award in Watershed Management, the Planner Emeritus Award from the California Chapter of the American Planning Association, and in 2024 he was one of Sustainable San Mateo County’s Sustainability Award winners. The Devil’s Slide Trail alone won five state and regional awards.
A Career of Many Hats
Sam riding a log back in the day
What’s remarkable is how many roles Sam filled simultaneously—often doing the work of multiple positions. He served as Natural Resources staff, Habitat Conservation Plan Manager, Midcoast Park Planner, Grant Manager, Capital Project Manager, and Program Director for regional fishery restoration efforts, all while serving as Senior Planner for the County Parks Department.
It’s worth noting his 25 years of dedicated service to the San Bruno Mountain Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) – the first such plan in the nation. Sam’s efforts contributed to the restoration of over 600 acres of sensitive habitat dedicated to the County. He also oversaw the vegetation management treatment of 2,000 acres and secured a $4 million endowment for habitat restoration plus increased HCP fees for new development. That’s impressive! San Bruno Mountain is home to four rare and endangered butterflies: the Mission Blue, the San Bruno Elfin, the Callippe Silverspot, and the Bay Checkerspot.
The Legacy
Most recently, Sam helped to get another Sam recognized: Sam McDonald. As one of the authors of an application to the National Register of Historic Places, Sam put a spotlight on the remarkable life and generosity of McDonald who worked at Stanford for over 50 years and purchased land near La Honda that eventually became a redwood park. McDonald was one of the first African American conservationists west of the Mississippi. His original acreage and the cabin he built, “chee-chee-wa-wa”, are being proposed for historic recognition so more people may know of his legacy and love for people and nature.
Sam Herzberg’s legacy is worth noting as well. As Sam steps into retirement, his legacy is everywhere: in the trails that stretch along our coastline, in the protected habitats teeming with endangered butterflies and salmon, in the parks where families gather, and in the policies that will guide conservation for decades to come. When Sam started with San Mateo County Parks in 1999, there were 14 parks and 150 miles of trails. Today, there are 24 parks spanning over 16,000 acres with 190 miles of trails. Sam’s fingerprints are all over that expansion.
Thank you, Sam, for 35 years of visionary planning, tireless advocacy, and unwavering dedication to San Mateo County’s natural treasures. The trails you’ve built will carry us forward—literally and figuratively—for generations to come.
Sam and his wife, Leslie, and daughters, Talia and Aliza
Retired SMC Parks staff, clockwise from left: Mike Fritz, Sam Herzberg, Ron Weaver, Lynne Fritz, Bob Emert, Mary Burns and Pam Noyer