A city proposal to establish a community garden on the edge of the 1,406-home Del Webb neighborhood has raised concerns — and outright opposition — from some residents.

Manteca senior management and several elected leaders will meet with Del Webb residents on Monday, Feb. 26, at noon at the community clubhouse to listen to concerns and answer questions.

The City Council in December earmarked $20,000 using leftover federal COVID relief funds to establish a community garden

City staff identified land that’s part of the fire station site on Lathrop Road at the Madison Grove Drive entrance to the Del Webb neighborhood as the optimum site for a community garden.

That was based on accessibility, available off-street parking in the fire station lot, the fact city personnel are basically nearby 24/7 at the fire station, and being able to convert a large swatch of ornamental turf into a use that would require less water and have a productive purpose.

The vision — as outlined — would include a decorative wrought iron fence to control access to the garden.

It is also hoped that it could be used for community cooking demonstrations on how to prepare dishes from the freshly grown produce.

Some of the concerns voiced so far range from traffic to the creation of a potential unkempt site at the entrance to the neighborhood.

The area in question is across from homes on a cul-de-sac.

Among the concerns include:

*If the parking lot is filled up as well as street parking next to the garden whether those using the garden would end up parking elsewhere in the neighborhood.

*the intersection at Madison Grove and Lathrop Road can be problematic for turn movements.

*the potential for dust and related issues.

*the possibility it could become an “attractive nuisance” that could bring vandals or homeless into the area.

The objective of the garden, from the city’s perspective, is multi-faceted.

*It would use under-utilized parcels to allow people who do not have the land to grow vegetables.

*It could be used as an educational forum, not just on how to raise vegetables, but nutrition as well as how to prepare vegetables and other dishes.

*Produce could go to help supply households in need or organizations that work with those struggling to put food on the table by providing fresh produce.

*It would make wiser use of water. The landscaping at the fire station serves no other purpose than to be eye candy.

 The fire station has a community room that could, if needed, be used to provide classes or seminars for programs connected with the community garden.

This is not the first time Del Webb residents have voiced concerns with how the city uses the part of the fire station property along Madison Grove and the cul-de-sac.

When the station first opened, the area was planted with native California grass that is similar to what the city has planted between the sidewalk on Moffat Boulevard and the transit center parking lot.

The grass clumps, uses significantly less water, and needs to be “cut” only periodically,

Even though it was native to California, it didn’t reflect how lawns have been planted in California since before World War II using grasses that are prevalent in the Midwest, Southern, and Eastern Seaboard where rain is much more plentiful.

The city ended removing the native grass and replacing it with non-native turf.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com