An odd, unused parcel the city has to eradicate weeds on a yearly basis in the downtown area could become a vibrant community garden

At the same time the city is looking at ways to step up use of what is one of the city’s least utilized recreation facilities — the Center Street tennis courts.

Mayor Gary Singh said the city has been exploring options to make better use of the southeast corner of Center Street and Poplar Avenue across from the library to serve community needs.

One would be to reconfigure the two tennis courts to accommodate six pickleball courts.

Pickle is one of the fastest growing participatory sports in the nation.

This past week, the city installed new court lighting using one-time federal COVID relief funds.

The same funding source has been committed to get water lines and such in place for a community garden that would then be operated by a local non-profit.

The community garden would not only make use of the large swath of grass adjacent to the tennis courts that is nothing more than eye candy, but also the dirt lot to the north pf the tennis courts.

The city acquired the parcel that was once the site of the Boy Scout Hut in 1991.

It originally built as a Christian Science Reading Room.

The historical society at first considered it as a location to open a museum.

They ended up determining it was too small for their needs.

The organization ended up buying the original Methodist/Episcopalian Church at Sequoia and Yosemite to house the museum.

The former Boy Scout Hut was razed over 30 years ago leaving the city with the vacant parcel ever since.

The advantages of the site are numerous when it comes to a community garden.

*It has access to city water.

*There is ample on-street parking bordering the tennis courts for their nee4ds.

*It is a highly visible site that enhances security.

*There is already lighting in place at the tennis courts.

*The organization could make use of the McFall Community Room across the street at the Manteca Library when necessary.

*It is a high profile location that could serve to attract people interested in participating with the community garden.

*Given its location, it could inspire workshops and such aimed at educating the community.

While Singh confirmed the city is ironing out details with a non-profit, he stressed nothing is in concrete.

That said, believes the community garden — along with possible pickleball court upgrades — will have significantly use while adding to the downtown area and enhancing the quality of life in the nearby neighborhoods.

Originally, the city proposed placing a community garden on the Lathrop Road fire station parcel bordering Del Webb.

Neighbors raised concerns with the location prompting the city to look elsewhere.

Locations were explored along Moffat Boulevard on city land adjacent to the Tidewater Bikeway near Manteca High, on land by the wastewater treatment plant, and at the Civic Center complex.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com