When Lathrop Parks and Recreation Director Zach Jones came to Lathrop he brought with him an idea that worked at his previous job – movies in the park.

And Lathrop residents have responded to the community gathering where Jones’ staff presents various family-friendly movies at parks throughout the community during the warm summer months as a way to bring people together.

That tradition will continue this year with a number of films that will be shown, and Jones maintains that it’s a good opportunity for residents to get out and meet their neighbors as well as an opportunity for his department to network with residents facilitate even more outings.  

“A lot of it was a great way to get out and do something free that was fun and safe for the people in the neighborhood,” said Lathrop Parks and Recreation Director Zach Jones. “We just want everybody from the neighborhood to come out and meet each other and it only encourages us to do more in those park locations.”

By the time the next film is shown on Friday, June 15, Jones hopes to have the City of Lathrop’s Community Service Officer and representatives from the local Neighborhood Watch organizations available to talk to residents about ways that they can get involved.

The films themselves and the laidback environment, Jones says, is a way to bring people together, but once they’re there it provides his staff with his chance to hear directly from residents and learn what they enjoy, and what they’d like to see offered in the community.

“It gives us an opportunity to connect with the community and find out things that they may be looking for,” Jones said. “If they were somewhere else out of town, and they saw something that they enjoyed, it’s a chance for them to come back to talk to us and see what else in the community we can provide for them.”

The next community outing will be on Friday, June 15, at Valverde Park, and the movie is scheduled to begin at dusk – just after 8 p.m. The fun will continue on Friday, July 13, at Park West Park, and then wraps up on Friday, July 27, at Mossdale Landing Community Park.

For additional information about the movies in the park, or for a complete calendar of upcoming activities in the community, visit the City of Lathrop’s website at www.ci.lathrop.ca.us.

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