Efforts to transform downtown Manteca into a more desirable destination for the city’s 92,000 and growing residents could rely on an idea that has worked elsewhere — a container park.

The city has been exploring with an interested party the possibility of a long-term lease of a large swath of Library Park and even a segment of Sycamore Avenue west of the library.

The concept is to accommodate upwards of 26 places to buy food between traditional food trucks and  some operating in converted truck trailer containers.

The refurbished containers could also house small boutiques and other endeavors such as trendy “bars.”

It would be centered around outdoor dining beneath the canopy of sycamore trees.

The endeavor would involve live music and entertainment.

There could also be a dog park.

The interactive water play feature could also be reactivated.

The city currently leases a city “park” — the municipal-owned Big League Dreams sports complex — to a private sector firm.

Leasing sections of the park would enable a private venture to take steps to better control a variety of issues that have undermined city efforts since close to $1.2 million was spent to expand and upgrade Library Park in 2011.

The goal at the time was to create a gathering place or, if you will, a low-key focal point for events.

The idea was to build on a variety of endeavors that had been happening at Library Park prior to the renovation.  They ran the gamut for specific “holiday” celebrations marking Cinco de Mayo and similar days,  low-key outdoor concerts, art endeavors, car shows, plus more.

After the work was completed, the homeless problem that had been almost invisible beforehand started growing.

Library Park become the de facto place for many homeless to hang out during the days.

And although they mostly cleared out when events such as weekly summer farmers markets were staged, the stigma created by the daytime homeless population and concerns that flooded social media effectively killed off the vision of Library Park being a robust gathering place for the community.

The city has gotten a much better handle on homeless and drug issues that plagued the park and nearby areas but it has been unable to rekindle the Library Park vision and turn it into a reality.

The expanded food court concept under private control via a lease is seen as a potential way to make Library Park a major community draw on more of a constant basis.

The concept would also have regional appeal for those in nearby communities.

Again, nothing is cast in stone and it may not materialize.

That said, it demonstrates the city’s willingness to think out of the box to move downtown forward.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com