Work has started on the group picnic shade structure replacement at Northgate Park.

The $800,000 plus project includes demolishing the existing group picnic structure along with the concession stands and restrooms.

An entrance arch above the gates to the Northgate Softball Complex that includes three lighted softball fields will be built to tie in a prefabricated restroom on the northwest side of the entrance and a new concession building on the southeast side. The restrooms would be accessible only from inside the softball complex.

A prefabricated shade structure will be used for the picnic shelter.

The shade structure was old, damaged and not water-proof given it had cross beams with wooden planks across it in a lattice design where wisteria was allowed to grow and wrap around the planks and beans to create natural shade.

 It also had several building code issues. The flooring for the group picnic areas was made of decomposed granite that doesn’t meet ADA standards. There was also a lack of security lighting

The restrooms had functionality issues plus are not ADA compliant and are undersized. 

The city in 2016 spent $300,000 removing what was severely deteriorated parking lot asphalt at Northgate Park, regrading to assure proper storm drainage, making American with Disabilities Act compliance improvements, installing new asphalt and doing parking stall striping.

The Northgate Park work follows overall improvements being completed at Lincoln Park — the city’s original community park — between 2011 and 2016. The Lincoln Park upgrades included new playground equipment, a new picnic shelter, improvements to the lighted baseball field, and a new handicap lift at Lincoln Pool. The city also added a small plaza with a baseball-themed statue

The work at Northgate Park is being paid for from park fees collected from new homes for community park facilities. Most of the work at Lincoln Park was paid for using federal Community Development Block Grant funds targeting lower income areas and blight.

When completed, all three of the city’s community parks — the third is Woodward Park — will have picnic shelters than can be used during inclement weather and provide protection from the sun.

The city now has more than 80 parks and sports fields. That includes neighborhood parks, the golf course, the Tidewater Bikeway, Library Park, Spreckels BMX Park, and the Big League Dreams sports complex.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com