Manteca’s neighborhood parks — including greenbelts such as the Tidewater Bikeway — will all be closing uniformly from dusk to dawn.

That means parks currently posted that they are closed from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. will join others that are now posted as being closed from dusk to dawn.

The Manteca City Council decision on Tuesday will go into effect in March providing a second reading of the ordinance change passes as well at a meeting next month.

There are exceptions for the city owned Big League Dreams sports complex, permitted events at Woodward Community Parks as well as use of recreation facilities such as lighted tennis courts, light soccer fields, and lighted baseball/soccer fields at Marion Elliott Park, Northgate Park, and Morezone Park.

Staff recommended the changes to the ordinance so all city parks would close from dawn to dusk citywide except where there are events permitted by the city after dusk.

The city in 2019 switched Library Park and Wilson Park to being closed from dusk to dawn to avoid anyone from camping there.

Dawn is defined as the time each day when the sun’s upper edge first appears above the horizon.

The city ordinance defines dusk as the time each day when the sun’s upper edge disappears below the horizon.

Official times will be determined by the city using government or metrological agencies.

The goal of the change is two-fold.

It creates a uniform policy that applies to all parks to end possible confusion on the public’s part.

It also makes it easier for law enforcement to enforce park closures.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com