Modesto City to rebuild park around Maddox Youth Center using Measure H and state funds

Project presenters and community members detailed plans to rebuild a park around the original Maddox Youth Center, a project that began in 2019 and is now funded by a combination of a previously awarded state grant and Measure H sales-tax revenue. "When we started this project back in 2019, the only thing that's remaining from that process is the original Maddox Youth Center building," the project presenter said.

The presenter said decades of declining amenities left an unusable lawn and unhealthy trees, and that the redesign responds to community requests gathered in two rounds of workshops. "We don't wanna just go in and throw money at a project if the community doesn't even want it," the presenter said, describing a first workshop to solicit ideas and a second workshop that checked back with representative images to confirm the design captured community priorities.

Residents and advocates urged several specific features during outreach. A group of community advocates pushed to add an "Escape Plaza," which the presenter described as an expensive request that had not been anticipated. A resident who described long ties to the skateboarding community noted the Byers Skatepark's nearly 40-year history and said sustained community outreach to city managers helped build momentum for an updated skate facility.

Councilmember commentary framed the investments as an equity effort for District 2, calling the funding "historic" and describing the district as historically underserved. The councilmember said safety is a top priority for the project, noting lighting and cameras that connect with a real-time crime center so parents can feel reassured about park safety.

The presenter said passage of Measure H, a 1¢ sales tax, allowed staff to combine those local revenues with the state grant and make the project financially feasible. Planned amenities cited by the presenter include basketball courts, a skate plaza and aquatic centers, which officials said are intended to encourage outdoor activity among children.

Officials and advocates expressed enthusiasm for the project's scale and community impact, with repeated references to a hoped-for grand opening in 2026. The presenter closed by saying the city hopes this work will restore Modesto's regional leadership in parks and recreation and provide recreational opportunities for generations to come.

No formal votes or motions were recorded in the available transcript; the presentation focused on design, funding and community engagement next steps.