Brandy Meyer, the city of Ceres’ public representative to the Tuolumne River Regional Park Citizen’s Advisory Committee, asked the Ceres City Council on Monday to schedule a time to discuss returning to assisting the park financially.

Several years ago the city ended contributions to the 500-acre string of parks along the river because of budget reasons. A 15-year member of the committee, Meyer said she no longer has a vote because the financial support was withdrawn.

The city of Ceres paid $25,930 towards the park’s maintenance in the 2009-10 fiscal year.

Mancini Park on the Ceres’ side of the river is cared for by the TRRP JPA and that many Ceres area residents use the park.

The park strings along seven miles of the river in disconnected segments.

She noted that Ceres is in the process of installing a kayak ramp at Ceres River Bluff Regional Park, which is part of TRRP. She said those who will launch boats from Ceres will likely get out of the river at other spots along the TRRP.

Meyer noted that Chris Guptill, a fellow member of the committee, created the Nine to 99 group which regularly cleans up the river and its banks. Those cleanup efforts have benefitted the Ceres’ side of the river.

With spring around the corner, Meyer said the park should be utilized more and that the city of Ceres “should be included in the development and maintenance of the Tuolumne River park to give our citizens another option to enjoy the outdoors.” She said the park’s plans include an amphi-meadow, river conservation classes, trails, riparian terrace, a bike and pedestrian bridge between north and south banks, kayak and canoe ramps and other projects.

“I truly believe that Ceres should have a voice and for our representatives to have that voice,” Meyer told the council via a Zoom connection. “We need to make a commitment to the city of Modesto and Stanislaus County and show that we care about the river and the parks adjacent.”