The City of Manteca is closing down the Woodward Park splash pad for two days that went into operation 34 days ago.

Cue up the gasps.

Log into Facebook.

Start the trash talking.

Blame Mayor Gary Singh.

Start spreading unfounded allegations.

Declare the city incompetent.

Call it shoddy work.

Yes, it’s time again to trash Manteca.

We know the city is closing the splash pad for two days because they openly told the world they were.

If one bothered to read the complete posting it was explained it was done for maintenance and to make adjustments to enhance safety and water conservation.

It wasn’t because it is falling apart or was shoddily put together.

One of the reasons filters are getting clogged is because people aren’t following the rules.

You know the ones. They are the ones posted on the signs that obviously aren’t meant for them.

One line reads, “No food, drinks, glass, or pets on the slash pad.”

So, what are people doing?

They’re letting their dogs play in the water and, as a result, dog hair is making its way into drains.

They’re letting their kids run around with chips and stuff that they drop on the ground and gets carried by water into drains.

Those drains have filters that are the first step in cleansing the water for reuse.

The city’s plans to upgrade the basins and the ground filters is being done by the contractor.

Clearly, not everyone is ignoring the rules on a wholesale basis.

And it’s probably not many, if any, of those having a cow over the two-day closure for maintenance.

The recycling technology can be finicky. Just ask other cities with splash pads.

But realistically what is going on is basically the result of the shakedown cruise, if you will.

Puddling created by the grade in landscaped areas are attracting wasps that have been particularly bad this year in areas throughout Manteca.

Adjusting the grade of dirt and adding another drain line to address issues isn’t a massive modification. It’s a tweak.

By the way, the reason why there is a rule that kids that aren’t potty trained are required to wear diapers is the same reason why dogs aren’t allowed on the splash pad. If you are a dog owner and can’t figure that out, here goes: The No. 1 can indeed be addressed by the water cleansing system.

But just because it can doesn’t mean it should be allowed to happen in the first place.

Then there is the little detail that some kids are afraid of dogs.

The bottom line is the splash pad is there for the enjoyment of kids, and not dogs, per se, even if one considers them their kids.

It might also help to keep in mind thousands upon thousands of kids have used the splash pad in the short time that it has been put in place.

Credit that to the city purposely placing in the heart of what is by far Manteca’s heaviest used park that had major gatherings from regional soccer tournaments to event-style festivals.

No one is saying don’t criticize the city when they deserve to be criticized.

But slamming the city for doing the job the city is expected to do is borderline unhinged.

In a way, it is similar to the complaints the city is constantly slammed with about the homeless trashing up Manteca.

It has clearly gotten better through the city’s efforts to get the homeless off the streets and retaining Manteca Property Services.

Not only is the city doing the job they are expected to do within the confines of the law, but they are being hampered by people not following the rules.

And that goes beyond the homeless.

Based on what Manteca Property Services collect on a daily basis a lot of “sheltered people” — read that as homeowners and renters — trashing up the streets and public property in addition to the homeless.

The homeless typically don’t dump big screen TVs and multiple bags of trash and boxes of junk along the street.

Nor do they drop off used tires, mattresses, couches, and refrigerators in the middle of the night.

The city isn’t making the mess but we expect them to clean it up.

Then, to pour salt on the wound, the usual suspects have a cow because the city is spending tax dollars to clean up the mess the city did not create.

Again, there are clearly occasions when criticism of the city’s actions and/or inactions are fair game and even justified.

Acting like a combo two-day routine maintenance and shakedown cruise closure is somehow a smoking gun of gross incompetence on the city’s part is a case of acting as if a speed lump is Mt. Everest.