Regina Lackey knows how frustrating — and inconvenient — it can be for young families to take their kids to a park for soccer practice and there not being a restroom available.
It was especially challenging for the Manteca councilwoman when her youngest child was still a toddler when they accompanied an older child to soccer practice.
It is why she always made sure to put a portable toilet in the back of the family SUV before she left home.
And it is why she made it clear at Tuesday’s City Council meeting that the Family City needs to live up to its motto and add restrooms to parks whenever they can.
The issue came up during approval of an annexation of land east of the Diamond Oaks neighborhood for the proposed 64-home 4C Ranch project.
She wanted to make sure, if it was possible, that the park could have restrooms.
Staff indicated that was an expensive proposition in terms of upkeep.
Lackey noted it is what families want.
In newer neighborhoods the cost of restroom maintenance would be collapsed into annually community facilities district fees paid by homeowners.
Mayor Gary Singh agreed with Lackey, adding that it is an issue for the elderly too that use the parks for daily walks even if they live nearby in the neighborhood.
Singh noted senior citizens can’t sometimes walk fast enough to get home in time.
The mayor said restrooms will improve the park experience and make it easier for more people to access them.
It is why Singh worked with the developer of the 818-home Quaterra neighborhood — including 672 apartments — being built on the northeast quadrant of Atherton Drive and South Main Street.
Restrooms are being included in the new park as well as a water play feature for kids, a cricket pitch, a pickleball court, sand volleyball courts, playground equipment, a dog park, picnic tables with a shade cover, walking paths, and lighting.
For years, the city — except at community parks such as Woodward and Library parks — has refrained from building restrooms.
Manteca stopped building restrooms in neighborhood parks in the 1980s due to ongoing maintenance costs. In later years, homeless sometimes became an issue.
The new parks, however, have all of their maintenance costs covered by community facilities district fees assessed on nearby homeowners.
In recent years as walking around park perimeters has blossomed, the city has been receiving requests that restrooms be added to neighborhood parks.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
