Manteca is exploring options on where to locate its first community garden.
Mayor Gary Singh said if the initial site at the Lathrop Road fire station doesn’t pan out, the city is looking at other feasible sites to get the project moving forward.
Singh has indicated there are three locations he believes would also work well for a community garden. They are near the Moffat Boulevard VFW Hall, the homeless navigation center being built off of Carnegie Court, and the municipal wastewater treatment plan in East Yosemite Avenue.
Meanwhile, the Urban Green Project organization that is hoping to work with the city to establish and operate a community garden is conducting a fundraiser on Wednesday, March 6, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Applebee’s Grill & Bar, 1272 East Yosemite Ave.
Those that present a flyer being circulated by Urban Green Project — or take a photo of it — and show it to the server will have 15 percent of their check (excluding tax and tip) donated to the organization.
The group can be contacted via their website at urbangreenproject.org
The city is trying to schedule a meeting in the next few weeks with residents of the Del Webb at Woodbridge neighborhood who have expressed concerns about the community garden being located near one of the four entrances to the age-restricted community.
The city has indicated it would like to locate the community garden on a grassy area at the fire station on the northeast corner of Lathrop Road and Madison Grove Drive.
The reasons the site was selected was it would replace ornamental grass, there is on-site parking, water is readily available, and it borders a cul-de-sac.
Singh, who noted the decision to use wrought iron fencing to secure a site would not only provide security and prevent vandalism but it would be an upgraded look over a chain link area if a garden is situated near a residential or commercial area.
Pluses that Singh believes the other three sites offer are as follows:
Navigation center
The homeless navigation center being proposed on 8 acres in the Manteca Industrial Park also has an affordable housing project element
As such, a program could be developed that engages the nearby future low-income households as well as the homeless to grow their own food.
The biggest thing that could derail that as a solid location is if there is insufficient room on the site.
Also, depending on various factors, it may take several years to move forward with a community garden at that location.
Near the VFW Hall
The vacant L-shape parcel bordering the city’s water treatment plant, Tidewater Bikeway, and the parking lot for the Moffat Community Center/Manteca VFW Hall has access to water and is visible and accessible.
It would also clean up an odd parcel that is mostly barren dirt with weeds.
The only possible use it could have is if the city decided to expand the parking lot at a future date.
Wastewater treatment plant
The municipal treatment plant has ample space.
It would also dovetail into green initiatives such as recyclable water that can be accessed by the community and contractors.
There is also a compressed gas fueling station that takes methane gas from the sewer treatment process and food water to make fuel the public will also be able to purchase for their vehicles.
Singh noted the city could even use the spot to distribute free mulch that is being added to the city’s green waste program.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
