Why is this Burlingame neighborhood called Polo Field?
Polo Field takes its name from the polo grounds that occupied this section of Burlingame in the early twentieth century, when wealthy San Mateo County landowners used their properties for the equestrian sport of polo. The sport required large, open, well-maintained turf areas — the kind of land use that left a legacy of more generous lot sizes in the area when the fields were eventually converted to residential development. The name persists as a neighborhood identifier even though no polo activity has taken place here for many decades, preserving a connection to the Peninsula’s sporting estate history that gives the neighborhood a distinctive identity.
Is Polo Field near Crystal Springs Reservoir?
Polo Field is in the western portion of Burlingame, adjacent to the hills that lead toward the Crystal Springs Reservoir corridor. The reservoir itself is a protected San Francisco Public Utilities Commission water supply, with public access to the water prohibited, but the surrounding open space creates an undeveloped landscape buffer along the hills that is visible from elevated properties in the western Burlingame area. Crystal Springs Country Club — a private golf and tennis club on the reservoir’s edge near Hillsborough — is accessible from Polo Field within a short drive for residents who hold memberships.
How do lot sizes in Polo Field compare to the rest of Burlingame?
Polo Field tends toward the more generous end of Burlingame’s lot size range, reflecting the historical use of this area for large-parcel recreational purposes before residential conversion. Properties in the neighborhood typically sit on lots of 7,000 to 9,000 square feet or larger, providing more outdoor space than the city’s central and eastern residential sections. This additional lot area supports larger homes, more extensive landscaping, and outdoor entertaining spaces that reflect the western Burlingame setting. Buyers who prioritize outdoor space alongside interior quality will often find Polo Field properties offer a better lot-to-price ratio than comparable homes in the city’s eastern neighborhoods.
What makes Polo Field distinct from the rest of Burlingame?
Polo Field’s western position adjacent to the hills, more generous lot sizes rooted in the area’s historical use, and proximity to Hillsborough’s estate character distinguish it from the central and eastern Burlingame sub-neighborhoods. The neighborhood has a slightly more spacious and semi-rural character than Burlingame’s flatland sections, while maintaining the same school district quality, community infrastructure, and access to Broadway and the Caltrain station that define Burlingame’s residential appeal. For buyers who want the most land and the most hillside-adjacent character within Burlingame’s city limits, Polo Field is typically the strongest option.
Burlingame Real Estate FAQs
What makes Burlingame’s “City of Trees” designation so significant? Burlingame’s exceptional urban tree canopy — planted primarily in the early 20th century by the city’s founders along the residential street rights-of-way — creates one of the most distinctive streetscape environments in the Bay Area. The trees (primarily large deciduous and evergreen species including elm, sycamore, maple, and redwood) provide the aesthetic character that distinguishes Burlingame’s residential streets, and the city’s active Urban Forestry program maintains and replaces the canopy as trees reach end of life. The tree canopy is a genuine driver of residential premium in the neighborhoods where it is most developed.
How are Burlingame’s schools? The Burlingame School District (elementary and middle) consistently ranks among the top districts in San Mateo County, with high test scores and strong parent engagement. High school students attend Burlingame High School (San Mateo Union HSD) or Mills High School (for properties in certain southern portions of the city). Both high schools are highly regarded; the district assignment depends on which elementary school the student attends.
How far is Burlingame from SFO? San Francisco International Airport is approximately 3-5 miles from downtown Burlingame — one of the closest residential communities to SFO of any Bay Area city with a strong residential market. The SFO proximity creates the noise tradeoff that the buyer must evaluate (the flight paths over the Bay mean some neighborhoods experience more aircraft noise than others), but for the frequent business traveler, the SFO proximity is a genuine lifestyle convenience that the Burlingame address specifically delivers.
