When Lathrop’s Parks and Recreation Director Zach Jones joined the city’s administrative team, one of the things he wanted to do was implement programs that make it easy for residents to enjoy parks and recreation offerings.
And for the second year in a row, the City of Lathrop’s Movies in the Park program – which is modeled after a program that Jones implemented when in Elk Grove – has become a success that has drawn more than a hundred residents at each of its stops since it began earlier this spring.
The series continues on Friday, July 14, at Valverde Park at dusk when “Sing” – Illumination Entertainment’s animated story about an animal-based singing competition – is shown on the city’s inflatable movie screen for anybody who wants to come out and watch.
“Sometimes it’s not feasible for people to drive across town to be able to enjoy an event that’s going on there, and this takes care of that,” Jones said when commenting on the program earlier this year. “We had a lot of successes there (Elk Grove) with this, and I think it’s something that the community is going to enjoy.”
While the idea of showing movies in the park is nothing new for the area, Jones had the idea of traveling to different spots throughout the community to make it easy for nearby residents to come out and enjoy the festivities.
Those that aren’t able to make it out on Friday will have another chance when on Friday, Aug. 4 “Finding Dory” – the Pixar sequel to the blockbuster smash “Finding Nemo” – will be shown at Mossdale Landing Community Park at dusk.
Residents are encouraged to bring any snacks, blankets or small-backed chairs they’d like in order to create a picnic-like environment for the movie.
For additional information, contact the City of Lathrop’s Parks and Recreation Department at 209.941.7370.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.