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Manteca leaders entertaining deal for family fun plan
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The architects of the Spreckels Sugar plant site’s rebirth into Manteca’s biggest economic engine are being called on to help transform 141.22 acres adjacent to the city’s wastewater treatment plant into a family entertainment Mecca.

ANF Development and the City of Manteca are expected to enter into an agreement tonight to devise a conceptual site plan complete with elevations of proposed structures, types of entertainment concerns, approximate construction costs, project phasing, needed  offsite improvements and a market analysis.

It is a follow-up on a City Council decision in September to start moving forward with the implementation of elements and infrastructure needed to create a family entertainment zone (FEZ) on city-owned land west of Costco and the Big League Dreams sports complex.

Last month, the city entered in a year-long exclusive negotiating agreement with McWhinney Development. That action will ultimately result in a decision on whether the Colorado-based firm will proceed with a 400 to 600 room Great Wolf Resort complete with indoor water park and conference center on 30 acres west of Costco. It is to the south of the future extension of Daniels Drive while the proposed FEZ is to the north.

The council will consider the exclusive negotiating agreement with ANF for the FEZ project during tonight’s 7 o’clock meeting at the Civic Center, 1001 W. Center St.

The overall objective is to wed Big League Dreams, a Great Wolf Resort and complementing venues to create an overall 205-acre regional family entertainment zone.

The site involves land that is now part of the city’s wastewater treatment plant holdings and is between McKinley Avenue and Airport Way along the 120 Bypass.

The conceptual plan for the FEZ includes:

•a 400-room destination family entertainment hotel - Great Wolf - with a 75,000-squatre-foot indoor water park and 20,000-square-foot conference center.

•a destination restaurant.

•a new west entry to the BLD complex.

•an indoor all-seasons sports and expo center with four basketball courts that would allow alternative use for volleyball, cheer competitions, badminton, gymnastics, wrestling or exhibit space.

•an outdoor soccer/concert stadium, with 500 fixed seats and space for expansion.

•fields for soccer, football, lacrosse, rugby, and field hockey.

•additional baseball and softball fields for youth play.

•a retail food and beverage zone.

•an immersive outdoor retailer.

•an outdoor amphitheatre with stadium-style seating for competitions and performances.

•ESPN-style microbrewery.

•manmade lake with boardwalk with kayaks, canoes paddle board and paddle boat rentals.

•beach volleyball.

•destination playground.

•outdoor performance space including a band shell stage or gazebo with lakeside seating for 500.

•party pavilions and party boats.

•a family entertainment zone including go karts, Lazertag, ball crawl, arcade, mini-golf, black-light bowling, and refreshments.

•an adventure zone with zip lines, rope course, rock climbing wall, whitewater course primarily for rafts and kayaks, stunt BMX race course and hard surface skate park for competitions complete with spectator bleachers, and a FlowRider (a device that generates waves you can surf).

There would also be RV and bus parking complete with a bus terminal. The complex also would involve the placement of a tour center to direct people to tours in the Delta, Yosemite area, wineries and agricultural attractions.

The site would include bike trails and landscape berms.

The FEZ would require 4,281 parking spaces.