Cricket — the world’s No. 2 participatory sport behind soccer — is coming to Manteca in 2024.

And four years later, it will be part of the Olympics for the first time ever when Los Angeles hosts the 2028 Summer Games.

Cricket’s debut in Manteca is thanks to a decision by City Councilman Mike Morowit to earmark $70,000 of $450,000 in federal COVID relief funds he was tasked with allocating.

The cricket field with regulation lines will be placed at Doxey Park — a larger neighborhood park northwest of Louise Avenue and Union Road that already has a soccer field that will continue to be used.

Morowit noted a number of requests have been made of the city in recent years to consider adding a cricket field.

“When people move to Manteca from the Bay Area  they’re not just buying a house but they want amenities and good schools,” Morowit said.

As such, Morowit believes the cricket field will serve Manteca’s growing and diverse population and provide more opportunities to bring the overall community together.

Morowit noted growth — which pays for them — has brought a lot of new parks with amenities south of the 120 Bypass.

By using the one-time COVID funds to place a cricket field north of the 120 Bypass, it is a chance to bring new amenities to more established parts of the city.

He also sees it as a way to increase interaction by having people become familiar with the rest of the community.

The philosophy of more community interaction and adding a  variety of amenities unfolding as the city grows is one elected officials embraced a few years back to end the cookie cutter pattern of neighborhood parks in new subdivisions.

It is why newer developments — mostly south of the 120 Bypass so far — include unique touches ranging from walking paths and climbing features to exercise stations that haven’t  been typically found in Manteca’s neighborhood parks.

Eventually, several council members hope one of the future neighborhood parks south of the 120 Bypass will include a dog park to serve the southern portion of the city.

And, if Mayor Gary Singh has his way, future community facilities districts for new subdivisions will also include the upkeep of stepped up recreational facilities at neighborhood parks.

Morowit said cricket could well end up like soccer did in Manteca.

Three decades ago, soccer was almost non-existent. Today, it is the biggest recreational sport in Manteca followed by baseball and softball.

Lathrop already has two cricket fields — one at Mossdale Landing Park and the other at the park area adjacent to STEAM Academy on River Islands.

There are also cricket fields in Stockton and Lodi.

Cricket as a sport doesn’t enjoy the same popularity in America as it does elsewhere. The United States doesn’t even crack the Top 25 countries for the sport.

The sport is most popular in India followed by Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Nepal, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Jamica, and Afghanistan.

 This year’s Cricket World Cup is currently in its semifinals stage.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com