The work on the 7th Street Skate Park – Lathrop’s first skate park that was demolished after it fell into disrepair – is now complete.
It gives Lathrop two skate parks. The other is part of the Generations Center complex near Lathrop High.
After the Lathrop City Council voted to spend $95,000 to install modular skate park equipment to replace the aging and at times dangerous equipment that wasn’t cost-effective for the city to maintain, the council authorized an additional $17,000 of Measure C funds to landscape the facility.
Originally built with treated wood, the facility became a burden for city crews to maintain after extended use and the elements led to rot. The extended use also exposed screws, which became a hazard for the skateboarders that used it.
And after the skate park at the Lathrop Generations Center was completed – one of the most complete skate parks in the area, which has become a hotspot for skateboarders throughout the region – the city opted to use a new design on the original park that featured modular pieces that can be replaced easily without affecting the overall dynamic of the facility.
Designed by Spohn Ranch Inc., the new park features heavy-duty pieces that are secured to the existing foundation and are constructed to withstand extensive use – something that was somewhat of a problem with the facility that it replaced. Unlike the Generations Center site, the entire park on 7th Street is completely above ground, and will serve the residents on the east side of I-5 rather so they don’t have to travel all the way down to near the high school to skateboard.
As part of what the council approved, an old building was located on the 7th Street site was destroyed and removed.
Earlier this month the council voted unanimously to accept the certificate of completion for the work that was done on the park.

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