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NEW RESTROOMS ON TAP FOR 3 CITY PARKS
Included is $697K relocation project at Woodward to make way for new restrooms for splash pad
library restrooms
Library Park is one of four city parks with restrooms that aren’t portables available for the public’s use.

Manteca is doubling the restroom capacity at Woodward Park, the city’s heaviest used park.

At the same time, the city has secured restrooms for two larger neighborhood parks being put into place in the coming year.

 “We have individuals from all walks of life and age using our parks,” noted Mayor Gary Singh.

Singh — along with council members Mike Morowit and Charlie Halford — have been fielding requests from residents for restrooms in parks for a number of years.

The decision to add more bathroom reflects two major developments.

“We are the family city, and parks are being used by more families,” Singh said.

The other development has a better handle on the homeless situation.

For years, the city not only avoided adding restrooms at parks because of the homeless commandeering them, but they shuttered a number of existing ones.

But in the past six years with the deployment of community resource officers dealing with homeless issues and changes in state laws as well as court decisions, the city has a much better handle on homeless misusing park restrooms.

“It’s a good problem to have,” Mayor Singh said. “It means more people are using our parks and its natural that people have to use the bathroom.”

Singh noted not only older people who are using parks in greater numbers for walks but also parents with small children using parks for soccer practice have pressed for restrooms.

The City Council on Tuesday approved spending $697,000 to relocate the existing prefabricated restroom building at Woodward Park to the east side of the retention basin by Bridewell Avenue.

The cost includes relocating the structure as well as installing a retaining wall, site fencing, connection to existing utilities (sewer, water and electrical), concrete pavement improvements, and landscape restoration.

If the city had demolished the restrooms and bought a new restroom structure for the Bridewell location, it would have cost upwards of $300,000 more to complete using a new prefabricated structure.

The new restrooms replacing the existing restroom at Woodward Park will consist of a series of individual unisex restrooms that will also double as changing rooms for the splash pad now being constructed.

The other restrooms will go at two larger neighborhood parks going in within 12 months.

*The central 10-acre park that is part of the 827-home Lumina at Machado Ranch now breaking ground on the southwest corner of Atherton Drive and Woodward Avenue.

*The Quaterra development park on the northeast corner of Main Street and Atherton Drive where the developer will be putting in a small water play feature, a cricket pitch, dog park, and other upgraded amenities.

 

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com