MANILA – A skate park, fenced area for dogs to play, multi-use courts, improved trails and a tiny house village are among the features included in conceptual plans for Manila Park.

The Manila Community Services District’s engineers, GHD, subcontracted with Wildling Design Studio to create the plans, which will be used to obtain state grant funding for the 11-acre park, located on the east side of the sandy outpost.

Manila District Manager Chris Drop told the Manila CSD Board of Directors at its July 19 meeting the park plans were created using input from the Redwood Community Action Agency’s 2019/2020 surveys and community meetings.

At its July 19 meeting, the Manila board did not take any action on the plans. It only reviewed them. The board may review specific projects in the plans when funding becomes available.

Wildling Design Studio created two conceptual plans for the park – one called The Rambles, the other The Axis.

The Rambles

Via Manila Comm unity Services District

The park currently has a play area, picnic area, restrooms, a multi-use field, tennis courts and a disc golf course. The Rambles plan would realign the field and the tennis court.

“The site lays out park amenities along meandering paths pulling park visitors through the site to more fully access and occupy the site,” states the plan.

The plan includes more than a mile of trails, a redesigned disc golf course, a paved multi-court, a group barbecue area, a skate park, tennis courts, play areas and developed overlooks.

The Axis

The other conceptual plan is called The Axis. “The site emphasizes social activity laid out along two primary axes that emphasize sightlines in park,” the plan states.

The Axis plan includes more than half a mile of trails, a dog park, a skate park, a multi-use field, tennis court, disc golf course and a tiny house village located at the site of the old campground, which has been closed since the pandemic started.

Board member John Broderick questioned whether the community would support a tiny house village at the park given last year’s controversy over a proposal to reopen the campground.

Neighbors submitted a petition opposing the reopening of the campground last fall. They claimed the campground was an eyesore that brought petty criminals to the area. The board ultimately decided to keep it closed.

“I…