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Work continues on Centennial Plaza
Tim Hartt at plaza
Public Works Department employee Tim Hartt applies fake brick to the curved surface of the Centennial Plaza. - photo by Jeff Benziger

The Centennial Plaza is slowly but surely taking shape with hopes of a summer completion.

Planning for the plaza has been taking place for two years and was intended to be completed for the 2018 Centennial celebration. The project broke ground in February and construction was delayed again and a second goal of completing it by the Ceres Street Faire – which was cancelled as a casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic – was missed.

Last week city Public Works Department employee Tim Hartt was working to cement brick façade to the masonry wall that encircles what will be the monument. He said the project should be finished this summer – earlier if more assistance is rendered.

Located on the southwest corner of Fourth and Magnolia in front of the Ceres Community Center, the plaza will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the city of Ceres in 2018.

Ceres itself traces its founding back to 1869. The first recorded map of the town of Ceres was filed Feb. 20, 1875. Ceres was incorporated as a city on March 4, 1918.

The cost of the project is covered by those individuals and businesses who purchased engraved bricks. The bricks cost $100 for the 3”x 8” size and $250 for the 12”x 18” size.

The project was a brainchild of the Ceres Centennial Committee, headed by former city councilman and county supervisor Paul Caruso in December of 2016.

Lisa Mantarro Moore of the Ceres Centennial Committee said she was proud of the city and grateful that city leadership allowed the committee to plan the project. 

Final costs have yet to be determined but the Ceres Centennial Committee has raised most of the estimated $20,000 to build a Centennial Plaza feature on Fourth Street near the Community Center. Chad Kennedy of O’Dell Engineering donated his time to design the plaza.