River Islands High will have access to three gyms.

The first phase of the campus opening in August includes a gym seating 1,800 that won’t be completed in time for use during the upcoming school year.

River Islands developer Cambay Group doesn’t want the inaugural high school class to be without a gym.

It is why they are advancing a solution that will make sure:

*There will be a gym available when school starts in August.

*That it can be used in conjunction with an adjoining community park being developed.

*River Islands High will be in a rare — if not unique situation — by having access to three gyms that will all have seating.

The Lathrop City Council when they meet Monday, March 25, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall, 390 Towne Centre Drive, will be asked to consider a change to River Islands development plans.

It involves reducing the 22.5 acre planned community park adjoining the western boundaries of the campus by 0.91 acres.

A gym — similar to the one now in place at Epic Academy — will be built

It has a regulation main basketball court with the ability to break out into two courts when bleachers are stored.

And like the Epic School gym, it will have a stage area making the gym conducive to concerts, play productions, and other events

It will sit near thee planned tennis courts, two full-size outdoor basketball courts and other facilities.

The community gym is expected to be operated and maintained by a free-standing “district” such as the one River Islands has in place for the existing baseball field-soccer complex and the stadium that will soon start construction near the town center by the Bradshaw Crossing bridge.

River Islands, after the gym is completed, will make it available to River Islands Academies. The education organization may only use the facility for school programs and events.

At times when the schools are not using the gm, which is anticipated to occur on Sundays and during summer break when the school is not in session, the City of Lathrop will have first priority to use the gym.

If there is a third-party request to use rthe gym, River Islands will not make it available to them unless the city approves the request.

The gym complex being built as part of the high school’s first phase includes a weight room, locker rooms, a cafeteria, and a band room.

The second phase incudes a smaller gym with less than 1,000 seats as well as a black box theater and a wrestling room.

The first-phase classroom space will accommodate 900 students.

When  completed campus is designed for an education-based program enrollment of 1,800 students.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com