Mayor Gary Singh has a few goals for Woodward Park.

One is for the city to install permanent goals on five soccer fields to eliminate the need for youth and competitive teams to set up and take down goals constantly.

It would also allow for impromptu pickup soccer games or just an opportunity for kids and others to practice on their own.

The other goal is to elevate Woodward Park’s status as the go-to park in Manteca.

What that may entail will be shaped in part by the Parks and Recreation Commission and community input as the city updates master plans for municipal parks.

The 52-acre community park, in Singh’s estimation, needs fine tuning and more community style events as well as being a place for people to head to simply enjoy an afternoon.

He believes it needs to be used more throughout the day instead of just for large soccer tournaments such as last Saturday or for special events such as this Saturday’s free Movie in the Park that starts with four trucks, music, vendor booths, and games at 5 p.m. as a lead into the screening of “Detective Pikachu” at sunset.

A big step in that direction is the elaborate water play feature now under construction at the heart of the park near the group picnic shelter.

Not only will it entice parents to head to Woodward Park with their kids on a day like today when temperatures flirt with 100 degrees to allow them frolic and cool off, but it will enhance the draw of festivals, family gatherings, smaller scale recreational events, and even soccer tournaments.

The water play feature complete with a series of restrooms that will also double as changing rooms will be completed by year’s end.

Part of the project — a missing sidewalk to connect the Woodward Avenue sidewalk to the park’s interior — has been completed.

It was done at the insistence of council members like Singh.

While walking on the grass might not be a big deal per se, it will allow a safe pedestrian route especially for those pushing strollers and such without sharing the entrance road with cars to access the park’s interior.

The water play feature endeavor also includes relocating the current restrooms to the east near the system retention basin.

As such, the available restrooms will be significantly increased to help better handle larger events.

Singh also hopes to see stepped up recreation programming at the park for community events.

The mayor said what the city may pursue next at Woodward may differ from what may have been discussed or planned in the past.

It is because community demand has evolved.

Woodward Park’s largest areas when the 52 acres was being planned and initial improvements made was for the field area to be used for multi-sports such as soccer, baseball, and softball.

The clamor back in the early 1990s was for youth baseball fields and even adult or youth softball.

That’s because there was a shortage of playing fields for baseball and softball at the time. Soccer was taking hold but not to the degree it has today.

The park has never been used for baseball and softball.

It has become one of the top venues for youth soccer tournaments in Northern California due to the well-drained soil that makes winter play possible and Manteca’s central location.

Baseball and softball have plateaued to a degree in terms of participation. Plus Manteca added the Big League Dreams sports complex that accommodates adult softball among other sports. That, in turn, freed up the Northgate Softball Complex for youth soccer.

Given Woodward Park’s soccer status, Singh believes permanent soccer goals make since.

Numerous neighborhood parks have permanent baseball/softball backstops.

Other things that had been suggested or planned for Woodward Park that are either off the board or could still be a possibility include a small amphitheater in the storm retention basin, tennis courts, and a skate park.

The “next” Woodward

Community Park . . .

The city is doing preliminary work on selecting a site for Manteca’s next high intense use community park in the area the city is growing into north of Lathrop Road.

The settlement with Delicato Wineries had identified a 50-acre site to the southeast of Union Road and Lovelace Road.

Disagreement with the landowners over price killed the deal. That said, the development patterns the city adopted still provides a buffer zone for the winery.

Developers in the areas are exploring possible locations for a community park.

The ultimate park could end up being 50 to 100 acres.

As such, it could have significantly different amenities including, as City Manager Toni Lungren suggested, possibly and amphitheater for community concerts.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com