A community center and swimming pool could be built on city-owned property on the northeast corner of Milo Candini Drive and Daniels Street across from the Big League Dreams sports complex.
And if ground breaks in the next few years, an effort by Congressman Josh Harder to secure a $2 million earmark in the 2027 federal budget will play a big role in making it happen.
“I’m dedicated to working to bring back to Manteca more of their tax dollars,” Harder said Wednesday.
His most recent funding successes for Manteca involved more than $2 million that included the animal shelter expansion ($850,000), a real time crime center for the new Manteca Police Department ($599,000) and the rest for work on the Highway 99/120 Bypass interchange upgrades.
City Manager Toni Lundgren indicated conceptual plans have been drawn for the site that is immediately west of where a Sonic Drive-In as well as a Chevron gas station with car wash, convenience store, and space for a quick serve restaurant has been approved.
Lundgren noted the city is still exploring other locations. That said, the city owns the land and can go forward with it if the other sites do not pan out.
Harder noted the community center that will also be programmed as a teen center plus the swimming pool are needed additions to Manteca that within two years is expected to eclipse 100,000 residents.
The federal earmark, should the city secure it, could end up being the linchpin to help bring together $26.2 million in park development fees collected from growth the city is projected to have on hand on June 30 and the ability to issue an 18-year bond for recreation facilities tied into the three-quarter cent Measure Q sales tax.
The fact the city already owns the land — just as they do on South Main Street where the $92 million police station is breaking ground this fall — helps to make the overall recreation project more affordable for Manteca to pursue.
The land was purchased in the 1960s to provide additional spray fields for treated wastewater. Technology advancements in the treatment process eventually made it possible to discharge treated wastewater into the San Joaquin River.
That then allowed for the city-owned BLD sports complex to be built as well as the 500-room Great Wolf indoor water park.
A hundred or so of the remaining acres are being prepped for transformation into a family entertainment zone through a private sector partnership.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
