Grupe Huber’s planned $75 million investment in the Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley includes a feature that sets it apart from all other shopping centers in the Northern San Joaquin Valley.

It’s an interactive water play feature or a splash pad.

Fritz Huber of Grupe Huber Co. shared the cool news with the sold-out crowd of 240 at the Manteca Chamber of Commerce’s State of the City event conducted at Great Wolf resort last week.

It will complement the small manmade lake near Bass Pro Shops and the AMC 16 Screen Showplace Theater. Orchard Valley also has a water fountain in the middle of a roundabout.

The splash pad is just part of Grupe Huber’s plan to upgrade the center that opened in 2008 that they purchased last year.

Between Orchard Valley and the city’s waterplay feature expected to break ground at Woodward Park this year as well as a water play feature planned by a developer in a more muscular neighborhood park on the northeast corner of Main Street and Atherton Drive, it will give Manteca three interactive water play features south of the 120 Bypass.

The most elaborate by far will be the city’s water feature being planned at the heart of the 50-acre Woodward Community Park.

And if might also be able to make that claim for the entire Northern San Joaquin Valley.

The $2.9 million project that went to bid last month will include a “river” where kids will be able to float water toys plus water falls over rocks that can do double duty as a climbing apparatus when the water is shut down.

The splash pad is designed to create the feel of a stream.

It will feature amenities such as a water trail, water tunnel, waterfall, outdoor shower, shaded seating area, and a swing set. There will be wet zones with ground and overhead sprays.

The splash pad will be built to the west of the playground area and to the northwest of the basketball courts.

In addition to the splash pad the project includes:

*replacing the existing restroom with a new premanufactured restroom.

*a new pump equipment building.

*upgraded landscaping.

*enhanced seating areas.

*improved walkways.

*various accessibility amenities.

It could also include shade structures based on the bids the city receives for the basic project.

City Manager Toni Lundgren said Monday the city is working with the designer of the water park to deal with tariffs that are posing a problem.

Almost all water play equipment components are manufactured in Canada while the only source for other items in the overall project is Mexico.

 The third water play feature is planned as part of  Quarterra’s 818 housing units project.

The project on the southeast quadrant of the 120 Bypass and South Main Street will include a 2-acre open space area adjacent to 672 apartments.

The open space — which essentially is being developed as a park — will be accessible not just by apartment residents but by anyone in Manteca.

It will be developed and maintained on Quaretrra’s dime.

Even with that big of an initial and ongoing investment, Quaretrra will still pay the full $4 million park growth fees the development is assessed under city rules.

And it won’t be a run-of-the-mill “neighborhood park.”

It will include:

*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.

*Lighting.

The restrooms is a big item for those who walk for exercise, especially the elderly.

Manteca stopped building restrooms in neighborhood parks in the 1980s due to ongoing maintenance costs.

But in recent years as walking around park perimeters has blossomed, the city has been receiving requests that restrooms be added to neighborhood parks.

All three water play features will circulate water and clean it for reuse as required by current state law.

The city’s original water play feature at Library Park — built for $450,000 in 2011 — does not recycle water nor does it have treatment equipment to clean water.

As such, water is simply dumped into the sewer system. It is no longer legal to do so.

The last time the city proceed retrofitting that water play feature so they could operate it, the cost was in excess of $600,000. That was more than two years ago.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com