By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Lincoln Park baseball field scores makeover
BBALL-FIELD5-1-9-11a
Manteca Councilman and Manteca Little League board member Vince Hernandez does his part Saturday as a volunteer helping to finish the Lincoln Park baseball backfield and infield project. - photo by HIME ROMERO

A small army of volunteers spent Saturday morning putting the finishing touches on the Lincoln Park baseball backstop and infield renovation project while helping stretch the city’s dollars at the same time.

The volunteer crew spread and leveled the new infield mix to complete the project and to make the field playable.

Manteca spent $76,162.75 from park fees collected on growth to remove and replace the existing backstop, dugouts, scorekeeper’s booth and concrete walkways. The new backstop is 20 feet in height and was moved back seven feet to accommodate the Little League recommended 25-foot distance from home plate. The previous fence was more than 29 years old and required frequent repairs.

Netting was also placed along the first base line in a bid to eliminate fly balls from hitting cars in the adjoining parking lot.

“The park gets a lot of use,” noted Assistant City Manager Karen McLaughlin who is also serving as the interim Parks and Recreation Director.

It is one of three community parks with the others being Northgate Park and Woodward Park.

Lincoln Park is situated on Powers Avenue between Manteca High and Spreckels Park. It is more than 40 years old. Even so, McLaughlin noted the city has worked to keep the park in as good as shape as posisble. That includes replacing playground equipment in recent years giving the play area behind the municipal swimming pool the second largest set of playground equipment in Manteca behind Woodward Park.

McLaughlin noted many people in the nearby neighborhood have taken a keen interest in keeping Lincoln Park as clean as possible.

The lighted baseball field is used by the Manteca Little League, Babe Ruth, and other teams including the Manteca High junior varsity baseball team.

The lights were upgraded several years ago by the city.

McLaughlin said the Little League group is now pondering the possibility of adding an electronic scoreboard to the field.

The city also plans to repave the Lincoln Park parking lot in the next few months.