Brandy Clark fondly recalls Miss Claudia’s ballet class.

“I loved it,” said Clark said of the class she first attended as a 4 year-old at Lindbergh School on North Street.

It planted the seeds for a lifelong passion for dance — jazz, ballet, tap, you name it.

The class was the first of many programs such as swimming lessons Clark would participate in growing up in Manteca that were staged by the city’s Park & Recreation Department.

And it led to Clark being involved as a kid in one of the “coolest things ever,” performing as part of a dance group led by Miss Janet Waters at the all-day Fourth of July festival at Manteca High in the 1980s that was capped by firefighters launching fireworks.

Today, Clark is helping thousands of Manteca residents have the opportunity to find their passion — or simply things that they find cool to do — as the new director of the Parks & Recreation/Transit Department.

Her goal is simple.

Clark wants to maximize recreational opportunities — whether it is via structured programs or by people using parks and their various offerings on their own — working with what resources Manteca already has in addition to making smart additions when it is financially feasible.

“We need to maximize space we have,” Clark said.

It is a philosophy based on two realities.

*Facilities cost money — often significantly more than most people think —- and they cost money to maintain and program.

*It can take years, even in a best case scenario, to get amenities in place.

It is why Clark believes it is important to effectively use — or build on — what Manteca already has in place.

As such, it means many things that the community desires can happen sooner instead of much later or not at all.

A prime example is the path the city is currently on when it comes to addressing ways to support the skating community — in-line, skateboard, and even BMX stunt riders — as well as exposing young people to the sport that gets them outdoors, exercising, and socializing as opposed to their eyes being glued to a screen.

Elevating the skate park

The current skate park — for a variety of political reasons back in the late 1990s — was placed in a location that critics of the decision back then and today contend was designed to set it up for failure in terms of it being a vibrant and high use facility.

*There is no street access to the skate park located off the Tidewater Bike Path northwest of Center Street and Elm Avenue by the PG&E substation.

*It was located next to the railroad line originally without fencing to prevent kids from cutting across the tracks to reach it.

*It is a barren location lacking shade and/or grass making it less than a desirable place to be on a summer afternoon.

City leadership started to change the narrative several years ago.

*Recreation staff started programming events at the skate park complete with food trucks, vendors, DJ music, lessons, and competitions.

*The City Council set aside $219,000 to jumpstart improvements — many of which some of their predecessors promised would happen 24 years ago.

*The City, through the recreation department, reached out to the skating community including those involved in the surging interest involving in-line skating, to see what they wanted and how the existing location could be made better.

All of this was done knowing to replicate elsewhere the same exact basic skate park that is in place now that cost $120,000 in 1998 could easily cost four times that today and it would take years to happen.

Clark said the working group involving community members have developed a list of desired. improvements.

*Signage near Center Street so people know where the skate park is located.

*Adding rails and such to the existing skate park.

*Planting shade trees with more seating.

*Access to drinking water.

*Lighting at the skate park to allow for evening use and along the Tidewater segment leading to the skate park from Center Street.

*Security cameras.

*Future expansion that could add more bowls and such.

*Art work along the fence and murals in the bowls to reduce graffiti.

Clark said the committee understands how pricey much of what is being suggested can be which is why they will be prioritizing what they would like to see done.

Clark said the city plans on starting improvements in the near future, noting that doesn’t preclude the possibility of a second skate park eventually being built elsewhere in Manteca.

But as Clark noted with the city’s long list of recreation wants and needs, that would likely be in the distant future.

“It is about getting things in place people can use now,” she said.

The next skate event is set for Saturday, May 16, from 6 to 9 p.m. It will include food trucks, music, demonstrations and more.

Building on what

is already working

Maximizing resources also applies to events and programming.

The recreation division has six staff members, compared to nine 16 years ago.

And while the department isn’t forging new endeavors, it is concentrating efforts on maximizing what already works.

One example is Movies in the Park. The June movie date at Woodward Park is being wedded with an autism resource fair that will take place prior to the movie screenings and activities surrounding it.

The staff also is planning to grow the highly popular downtown Trunk or Treat as well as Christmas at the Center.

Clark noted for now Music on Maple has six dates between May and October when the weather cooperates for outdoor gatherings.

She noted a lot of other facilities offer opportunities for recreation style programming such as Library Park or the transit center that could be done via community partnerships.

That said, the recreation sports and class offerings continue to grow with new offerings reflective growing trends such as cricket classes.

Helping bring Manteca

together as a community

Clark, a 1990 Manteca High graduate, has 23 years with city parks and recreation in addition to teaching fee classes before joining the staff.

She sees a strong parks system coupled with a robust recreation program and events that encourage people to gather as a way to strengthen the community as it grows.

And to do so effectively, she said the department is working to further step up city partnerships with community organizations to expand Manteca’s recreational offerings and events.

Community interaction is why putting transit under the same umbrella makes sense.

Parks, recreation, and transit are the city functions that physically deal directly with the most people whether it’s events, sport leagues, classes, or helping them travel around town to access services, shopping, and entertainment.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com