City Manager Toni Lundgren declared that Manteca “values family and fun” while addressing a gathering at Woodward Park on Tuesday morning.

And you didn’t have to look far to find evidence supporting that assertion.

Behind Lundgren was the large area encircled by a sidewalk at the heart of Woodward Park where what is expected to be the largest splash pad in the Northern San Joaquin Valley will be built.

The ceremonial groundbreaking that followed included former Councilman Jose Nuno who got the idea of building a splash pad rolling in the first place, means kids could be cooling off within a “stream-like setting” by summer’s end.

That, of course, is if there are no hiccups in the construction timeline.

“This is part of a broader effort to improve the quality of life (in Manteca),” Lundgren said of the project being funded with federal pandemic pass through funds and park growth fees.

That  broader effort was underscored by a list of projects shared by Mayor Gary Singh involving parks and recreation that have been completed in the past six months or are in the process of being tackled.

*Basketball court lighting at Woodward Park.

*A new shade structure at Solara Park.

*The first phase of the golf cart path improvement endeavor at the golf course.

*New fencing along Crom Street at the golf course.

*A new community garden in conjunction with the non-profit Urban Green adjacent to the Center Street tennis court. A ribbon cutting is planned for June 12 at 10 a.m.

*Pavement upgrades for the Tidewater Bikeway between Lathrop Road and Louise Avenue.

*Improved lighting at the Morezone baseball field on Center Street.

*A cricket pitch at Doxey Park.

*A second splash pad a developer has agreed to put in place in a park near Main Street and Atherton Drive.

*Security lighting for Tony Marshall Park.

“As Manteca grows, we need to invest in parks,” Singh said.

Councilwoman Regina Lackey, whose district Woodward Community Park is located, indicated the splash pad would be another was children and their families can enjoy living in Manteca.

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 with state required outdoor showers for splash pad users.

*the current restroom will be relocated further to the east

*a new pump equipment building.

*upgraded landscaping.

*enhanced seating areas.

*improved walkways.

*various accessibility amenities.

It could also include shade structures.

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 includes a channel with a natural stream-like theme.

It envisions dry zones with walkways, sitting areas, and boulders.

There also will be trees and shrubs incorporated into the splash pad envisioned for the heart of the park near the drop off area in the main parking lot

The splash pad will be encircled with a sidewalk connected with walking paths accessing other parts of the park.

The project will adhere to strict state water use guidelines and health code requirements.

As such the measures involving the cleansing of  water that will repeatedly be recycled has added to the complexity and cost of the project.

But because of that, the splash pad will be able to be used through the summer instead of just on limited occasions such as the one at Library Park.

The water at Woodward Park will be used, drained into a closed system, and then be treated for reuse.

Such systems are even allowed by the state to be used on a limited basis during times of declared severe drought.

Splash pads without the treatment component simply send water into the sewer system.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com