Manteca Recreation & Community Services Department is taking to the great outdoors in a bid to offer youth sports endeavors that meet COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
“We want to get kids back to being active,” said Deputy City Manager Toni Lundgren. “And we’re doing that by taking what programs we can outside.”
That includes the city’s popular coed basketball clinic.
Instead of inside a gym this year, it is being staged at the Woodward Park courts for six consecutive Saturdays from March 20 to April 24.
The coed basketball clinic is designed to teach skill development and in game concepts through multiple meeting sessions with the program coaches. The coaches will follow the Jr. NBA organization curriculum throughout the program. Each player will receive a tee shirt and access to the Jr. NBA app and website to practice additional skills at home and with instructional videos from NBA coaches and players.
There are two sessions being offered. One is for fourth and fifth graders. The other is for sixth through eighth graders. Space is more limited than normal due to smaller group sizes.
The cost is $65 for city residents and $75 for those who reside outside the Manteca city limits.
The clinic will follow the current state and county guidelines for COVID-19 safety for outdoor recreation programs. Registered participants will receive additional sanitation and safety measures prior to the program start date. Register for the program at Mantecagov.com/parks and click on registration information or call 209-456-8600 for more information.
BMX park is open
Following upgrades and changes in lockdown status the Spreckels Park BMX course has reopened on Spreckels Avenue at Moffat Boulevard.
The facility is open from dawn to dusk. There is free entry.
Track operator Jon Anderson can be contacted at (209) 815-8376.
Date Night
Despite a San Joaquin County health order limiting gatherings to outdoors only and a maximum of three households, the City of Manteca has devised a way of staging a multiple household “Date Night” for parents and their children on Saturday, Feb. 27.
The city event has been crafted in a manner to work with COVID-19 restrictions. For $20 per parent-child couple with each additional child costing $5 those attending will receive a professional photograph from Reflections Photography, a dance together, and a date night box of activities to take home.
Arrival times are staggered which means people will be ushered out after what is being called their “special dance opportunity” and handed their activity box.
The event dubbed “Daddy and Me & Mommy & Me Date Night” takes place inside the Manteca Senior Center on Cherry Lane. Masks will be required and that COVID-19 guidelines will be followed.
Registration is underway online at https://webtrac2.ci.manteca.ca.us/wbwsc/WEBTRAC.wsc/ or by calling the Recreation & Community Services Department at (209) 456-8650.
The time for participants to appear will be done upon enrollment.
The city’s Facebook posting notes the Father-Daughter Dance, the Mother-Son Dance and the Family Glow Dance Party were not offered in 2020 due to the pandemic. The staggered dance party is designed as “a fun opportunity to help your family carry on these annual traditions . . . if you still want to get dressed up for your own parent-child date night or family fun night.”
