City officials had hoped to increase bathroom capacity at Woodward Park and save taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in the process.

The new interactive water play feature now being built at the community park requires separate bathrooms that can double as changing rooms.

Given the existing modular restroom building is adjacent to where the water play feature is going, the new splash pad restrooms will be placed there.

The plan was to relocate the existing restrooms that are around 20 years old closer to the storm retention.

Greater use of the park has increased the demand for restrooms over the years.

The city initially believed it could relocate the existing restrooms and put in place the necessary plumbing and avoid upwards of $300,000 buying a new modular restroom building in the process.

A recent evaluation of the existing restroom facility structure has revealed that the structure has significant structural and cosmetic issues and cannot be relocated safely. 

Staff recommends replacing the structure after weighing the estimated costs of repairing the damage and vandalism the structure has experienced over the two decades it has been in service.

 It will require an additional $400,000 to demolish the existing structure and purchase a new restroom.

As such, it will bring the splash pad project to $4.1 million.

The project already includes a restroom building and other related park improvements including additional sidewalk to avoid people from needs to walk on the grass to enter the heart of the park from, sidewalks along Woodward Avenue.

The additional $400,000 will come from Park Acquisition and Improvement Fund growth fees.

 The Manteca City Council meets Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Civic Center, 1001 W. Center St.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com