Manteca needs 88 more acres by 2035 to accommodate community parks and special use parks to serve a projected population of 117,010.
It will also cost $$81.1 million based on 2019 cost projections to develop an aquatics center, sports fields, and aquatics center to go on those 88 acres.
That is the bottom line of the first-ever parks and recreation masterplan adopted by a previous council back in 2017.
Six years later, an effort is underway to go after what Mayor Gary Singh describes as “low-hanging fruit.”
Discussions — that are exploratory and may end up going nowhere — are focused on several strategies.
*They include the possibility of repurposing existing land the city owns.
*Developing private-public partnerships.
*Working with developers to possibly “super-size” future neighborhood parks to a degree to get some of the amenities identified in place where it makes sense.
It’s a nod to the reality that Manteca — despite a clamor for more recreational facilities and having imposed more robust fees for growth’s share of community park facilities — simply can’t afford them given current circumstances.
That’s view that arguably the council’s biggest advocate for recreation facilities — especially the big ticket item of a $12 million aquatics center — holds.
“We have too many more important pressing needs,” said Councilman Dave Breitenbucher, a long-time high school and recreational swim coach.
The list of pressing needs Breitenbucher ticks off virtually mirrors that of his council colleagues: A new police station, upgraded firefighting equipment, more police and firefighters, and street improvements.
And that doesn’t include solid waste, water and sewer fee hikes that residents are going to need to pay to keep those three basic essential services operational and in compliance with state mandates.
Breitenbucher, though, would like to see at least a low-key effort — perhaps with a council subcommittee similar to the ones for the homeless and downtown — to keep moving forward the goals outlined in the masterplan.
“We don’t need another study,” Breitenbucher said. “We know what we need.”
As such, he hopes the city can find a way to work toward the objectives of the masterplan so that it is not relegated to a back burner prompting the need in the future to commission yet another study before work can proceed.
“I want to make sure it moves forward even if I’m not re-elected (in four years).” He said.
Meanwhile, Singh said staff is looking at a variety of endeavors to address some of the parks and recreational needs identified in the master plan,
One could be repurposing under-used Wilson Park in downtown for use as the city’s second dog park.
Another could be to use a portion of the city’s 100-acre family entertainment zone (FEZ) book-ended by Great Wolf and Big League Dreams.
One possibility is in preliminary discussion is a partnership with the private sector to add additional playing fields such as for soccer in the FEZ.
Such uses, would dovetail into the city’s economic stimulus strategy for the FEZ area. And it could be done in the back end of the area leaving high profile sites along Daniels Street for commercial family entertainment ventures the city hopes to secure.
Singh also wants to search for funding sources beyond growth fees.
That is how the city was able to develop the BLD sports complex when it lacked the funds to do so.
A $1 deal engineered with developers is how the city secured the 52 acres that is now Woodward Park.
And a partnership with a non-profit was able to the Spreckels Park BMX course up and running.
In the BMX track example, the city contributes to funds needed for ongoing maintenance costs while the nonprofit maintains the course which is available for the general public when they are not using it for competitions.
What the adopted master
plan says Manteca needs
The RJM Design Group that developed the master plan in 2017 indicated what facilities were needed to meet existing demand back then were:
*Three additional soccer fields to enable decreasing the usage at park sites that are currently over-programmed, and seek funding and installation of synthetic turf at selected new facilities.
*Two indoor youth basketball courts.
*One additional swimming pool.
Among the recommended facilities for future demand were:
*Additional youth baseball fields.
*Additional youth softball fields.
*Additional multi-sports long fields for soccer, football, rugby, and lacrosse with emphasis on synthetic turf opportunities at future facilities.
*Additional multi-use jogging/walking/bicycling trails, and for equestrian use when practical and connecting with other equestrian trails.
*Two additional indoor basketball courts.
*One additional swimming pool.
*Four additional tennis courts.
Of the future needs, the masterplan referenced a potential for FEZ multi-use playing fields being developed in a partnership with the private sector.
Also, the city has a 20-mile bike path system plan that is partially in place that is designed to encircle Manteca with remaining links built by developers as growth occurs. The current paths in place from Airport Way on Del Webb’s western boundary that goes east to the Tidewater makes it way to Atherton Drive where it splits in two directions toward Woodward Avenue and Main Street with temporary endings waiting growth. There are already two spurs in place — Spreckels Avenue and Wellington Avenue to reach Woodward Park. In additional a number of approved and proposed neighborhoods south of the 120 Bypass have bike trails as part of their design.
The consultants conducted phone surveys of Manteca residents that identified the biggest short comings of the municipal park system was the lack of a teen center and a water park. Neither were listed as a future need in the master plan.
Residents were most concerned
about homeless in city parks
Among the non-facility recommendations to meet current and future demand:
*Increase volunteer opportunities in park, trail, and open-space operations.
*Pursue additional public-private partnerships to provide expanded recreational programs.
*Emphasize opportunities for improved trail connectivity.
*Encourage more on-site recreational facilities within new residential developments.
Despite the fact phone surveys and policy workshops conducted by the consulting firm where residents said their biggest negative issues with city parks were the homeless, the master plan offers no road map for the city addressing that issue.
An initial report the consultant made in the master plan development process to the City Council, said residents’ least favorite parks were Northgate and Library parks due to unpleasant encounters with the homeless.
The future needs are based on projections Manteca would have 87,741 residents in 2020, 97,410 in 2025, 107,766 in 2030, and 117,010 in 2035.
The consultant also pointed out the population is aging yet senior-specific facility needs are not addressed.
The master plan as of 2017 noted Manteca has 483.13 acres dedicated to park and recreation uses: *212.973 acres of neighborhood parks
*90.94 acres for special uses such as Big League Dreams as well as the BMX track and skate park among others.
*78.46 acres of community parks.
*101 acres at the golf course.
While the city often refers to the Tidewater Bikeway as a linear park the consultant opted to list those four acres as not being part of the overall park site total.
The consultants concluded Manteca in 2017 needed an additional 21.26 acres of parks to serve its current residents based on City Council adopted standards of service.
By 2035 that deficit will increase to 241.91 acres if no additional parks were put in place. Of that, all but 88 acres are neighborhood parks that the developer puts in place. The rest is 44 acres for another community park and 44 acres for a special use park such as a community center-aquatics center.
The consultant concluded in 2017 that current recreation facilities such as softball and baseball fields, soccer fields, tennis courts, swimming pool, indoor basketball facilities, senior center and library are either exactly where they should be in terms of the number of each particular facility or there is slightly more or less.
If no additional facilities are added by 2035, Manteca will be short 3.9 softball fields, 11.2 baseball fields, 4.1 football fields, 15.8 soccer fields, 1.3 swimming pools, 4.2 tennis courts, 1.3 indoor basketball facilities, 0.4 community centers, and 0.4 libraries.
The report makes no reference to the adequacy of existing facilities. Instead it simply inventories them. That’s why a number of people at workshops leading up to the master plan’s adoption argued the senior center and library, for example, are inadequate for even current needs.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
