The long-promised group picnic shade structure at Northgate Park will be a significant upgrade from what originally was proposed five years ago.

The Manteca City Council last month called for bids for the project expected to cost $860,000.

It will include 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 current shade structure is old, damaged and is not water-proof. It also has several building code issues. The flooring for the group picnic areas is decomposed granite that doesn’t meet ADA standards. There is also a lack of security lighting

The existing restrooms have 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 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 work at Northgate Park is being financed with park fees paid by 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.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com