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City making progress on park expansion, sewer line designs
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Designs are being completed for the expansion of the Ceres River Bluff Regional Park, improvements to Sam Ryno Park, and a sewer line project to reduce sewer backups underneath Mitchell Road.

The city recently amended the master plan for the Hatch Road park to add more soccer fields and more parking. City Manager Toby Wells said the design work has been initiated with estimated construction to take place next spring and summer with the new fields ready to play in the fall of 2015.

In April the Ceres City Council decided to use $2.3 million in 2006 redevelopment bond proceeds to improve the upper terrace of the Ceres River Bluff Regional Park. The addition of a new league size soccer field and expanded parking allows Ceres to host state soccer cup tournaments and bring in out-of-town visitors who would stay and shop locally.

In 2013, the council updated the master plan for River Bluff Regional Park, calling for a new full-size soccer field, two smaller fields for children, additional parking and room for a new two-million-gallon water tank.

Design work is nearly complete on an alignment of the sewer line on Service Road and upgrading a portion of the sewer line that runs down Mitchell Road. Currently the line's condition results in a bottleneck of from the Barbour's lift station just south of the Mitchell Road/Whitmore Avenue intersection to the sewer treatment plant on Service Road at Morgan Road.

The $1.5 million project is being funded by redevelopment bond proceeds.

The city expects to go out to bid soon for playground improvements at Sam Ryno Park on Ceres' west side. The city received a $250,000 Land Water Conservation grant to cover the project. Construction is expected to occur this fall.

Also on the drawing board are plans for a 16-inch water transmission main that will cost nearly $3 million. Wells said the project will provide tremendous water system benefit to balance water pressure throughout Ceres, especially in the area north of Hatch Road. The project is expected to start early next year.

Engineers are also designing the widening of Whitmore Avenue between Blaker and Morgan roads as well as full improvements at Morgan and Whitmore. The project is planned to take place next summer.