Phase II of the Silva Park Master Plan has begun and the area that this phase will cover has been fenced off for the installation of a restroom, pavilion, picnic tables, water fountain, and concrete table tennis platform. The preparation for Phase III including underground utilities for the future water park will begin as well.

In December 2013 the Riverbank City Council agreed to continue with Phase II and III of the Silva Park Master Plan that was presented by Sue Fitzpatrick, Director of Parks and Recreation.

Silva Park is located in a Landscape and Lighting District and is the largest park in Crossroads at eight acres which was primarily a drainage basin. Since the top part of the park has enough flat space, the city is able to develop on it and leave the bottom of the park for the water collection during winter months.

The Master Plan was originally created in 2004 with involvement from an architect and members of the community.

In 2005, Phase I of the park was completed and consisted of a playground, basketball courts, signage and landscaping. The cost for completing Phase I was $395,398 with $348,398 of the funds covered with development fees. The other $47,000 was provided by Prop 40 per capita funding that was available for park development.

The work for Phase II began a few months ago and has a completion date of early spring.

“The community really desires a restroom there at the park and a shaded picnic area,” said Fitzpatrick. “The concrete table tennis tables will be a fun amenity that we think people will really enjoy.”

Project Coordinator Laura Graybill stated that the restroom and picnic pavilion work is being done by Romtec, Inc. and the underground utilities are being done by Garrett Thompson Construction, Inc.

When funding is secure the City will proceed with Phase III, which will include the water park or spray park.

“This will be a small area where kids can play in the water with interactive features,” stated Graybill. “We need to raise funds and/or secure a grant for this project and I am hoping to kick off this fundraising campaign after Phase II is complete.

“Some of the neighbors have offered to assist with this.”

Officials are pleased with the work being done so far and are looking forward to completion of the total project once the funding is in place.

“Everything that we are putting in this phase is going to be up to code for the future spray park so the challenge will be to raise the funds for this or secure a grant,” expressed Fitzpatrick.