Coming up with a strategy to determine how to finance a new community swimming pool or aquatic center, civic gym/community center, and more sports fields is a top priority in the coming fiscal year for the Manteca Parks & Recreation Department.
Director Kevin Fant shared department goals as well as pending projects with the Manteca City during last month’s mid-year budget review that served as a precursor to cobbling together the city’s spending plan for the 2018-2019 fiscal year that starts July 1.
The three recreational facilities were identified that Manteca as a growing city has the most pressing need for in the first ever municipal Parks & Recreation master Plan adopted in December of 2017. The proposed feasibility study would dial in more precise costs and identify the funding shortfall. Under state law, fees charged to new development can only cover the share of costs that growth creates for new facilities.
That dovetails into the other department priority that centers around polling to determine voter support for a possible tax measure on the 2020 ballot to help pay for the improvements. Such a measure would require a two-thirds vote.
Among the projects the department is working on are:
uManteca Golf Course clubhouse rehab projects centered on the elevator and exterior stairs that had fallen into disrepair.
uReplacing the aging Northgate Community Park group picnic shade structure and restrooms. The city has funds set aside for the work but it is not enough.
uUpgrade work at the Manteca Senior Center.
uReplacing turf at the Manteca Civic Center with low water use landscaping.
uUpgrading the Spreckels Park BMX track at Moffat Boulevard and Spreckels Avenue.
uRepairing tennis courts on Union Road in front of the golf course and on Center Street across from the Manteca Library.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
AIMING FOR MORE PLAY
Manteca aims for feasibility study for gym, community center, pool

