Want to be featured in our e-newsletter and other publications? AND win prizes? We are calling all photographers, nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts to spend some time in one of the 24 San Mateo County Parks this spring and submit your favorite photos to our Park Pics contest.
Contest opens March 20, 2025 and closes on May 5, 2025. Photos taken during this timeframe are eligible.
NEW THIS YEAR! We’ve expanded our categories. And, although we love all kinds of parks photos, we’re encouraging more entries to the People in Parks category. SO, if you enter an image into the People in Parks category, we’ll let you enter 2 additional photos! PLUS, the winner of the People in Parks category will receive a $175 REI gift card. Winners in the other categories will receive a $125 REI gift card, and the grand People’s Choice winner will receive a $225 REI gift card.
CONTEST CATEGORIES
- Landscapes and Waterscapes: photos that celebrate the beauty of the trails, vistas, natural landscape, and coastline of the 24 San Mateo County Parks
- Up Close with Flora: photos that spotlight the amazing flora in San Mateo County Parks
- Up Close with Fauna: photos that spotlight the fabulous creatures in San Mateo County Parks
- People in Parks: photos that highlight the many ways that people (and sometimes their pets!) enjoy the County Parks, from hiking and picnicking to flying kites or plogging
A judging panel will select an overall winner from each category (all ages). A People’s Choice winner will be chosen by public vote on our website in the early summer.
CONTEST HIGHLIGHTS
- Photo contest runs from March 20, 2025 through May 5, 2025. No entries will be accepted after May 5.
- Photos must be taken in San Mateo County Parks open to the public.
- We will accept photos taken during the contest dates. We are looking for spring photos so please adhere to the timeframe! Photos taken before March 20, 2025 will not be considered.
- Each entrant may submit up to three (3) images and each image may be entered in only one (1) category.
- BONUS: Each entrant that submits at least one image to the People in Parks category will be allowed to submit two (2) additional photos to any category (for a total of 5 photos)
- Photos submitted to other local photo competitions are not allowed.
- People’s Choice award winner will receive a $225 REI gift card plus San Mateo County Parks Foundation swag (including an annual pass).
- People in Parks category winner will receive a $175 REI gift card.
- Winners in Landscapes & Waterscapes, Up Close with Flora, and Up Close with Fauna will receive a $125 REI gift card.
TERMS
BY ENTERING THE CONTEST, YOU ARE ACCEPTING AND AGREEING TO ALL RULES, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS (“TERMS”). Park Pics is open to participants regardless of residence or citizenship, so long as the laws of their jurisdiction allow participation. Employees of the San Mateo County Parks Department and employees or board members of the San Mateo County Parks Foundation are not eligible to participate. Photo submissions must be uploaded by 11:59p.m. Pacific Daylight Time on May 5, 2025. Please review the full Terms and Legal Conditions before entering. Have fun!
Questions? Check out our FAQs, or please email Leslie Holzman at leslie@supportparks.org.