Modesto’s river park has a new shady spot for picnics. Another got a refresh
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Modesto completed two picnic area upgrades in Tuolumne River Regional Park.
- Funding came from developer fees, state grants, and federal pandemic aid.
- Updated master plan aims to improve paths, trails, and floodplain access by 2026.
A new pavilion shades picnickers in Tuolumne River Regional Park, while a long-established spot got an upgrade.
The new shelter is next to a small swimming beach along Legion Park Drive, just south of Modesto’s airport neighborhood. The other project is about half a mile upstream at Picnic Area B, where mature trees provide the shade.
Both projects were finished in mid-July. The Modesto City Council approved the construction bids last fall.
The park runs along seven river miles between Mitchell and Carpenter roads. Ceres and Stanislaus County are also partners in TRRP, which is getting an update to its 2001 master plan.
The metal-roofed pavilion was installed on a $597,519 contract with Westside Landscape & Concrete of Newman. It has nine picnic tables and a grill. The project also features an outdoor “learning theater” with seating for 25 people for nature programs and other uses.
The city covered $500,000 of the cost with a state grant and the rest with fees charged on developers for recreation improvements.
The $376,978 contract for Picnic Area B went to Sinclair General Engineering Construction, based in Oakdale. It replaced 29 concrete tables and two grills and also redid pavement and lawn.
Picnic Areas A and B are both in the Mary Grogan Grove, named for a long-time park and recreation director in Modesto. It has the park’s largest expanse of oaks and other native plants, as well as playgrounds for children.
Area B recently got a new restroom building via a separate contract, bringing the total to $850,000 for the picnic site. The city used $125,000 from developer fees, $375,000 from TRRP reserves and $350,000 from the federal aid that helped Modesto weather COVID-19.
Despite the riverside setting, the park is lightly used compared with other attractions in the county. Residents have raised concerns about trash dumping, homeless camps and other problems.
The first master plan was drafted in 1968. Early projects were mainly in the Grogan Grove picnic areas. The park has dirt trails for hikers and dirt bikes for almost its entire length. The only gap is at Dry Creek, where a proposed bridge has not been funded.
A paved path stretches from the airport area to the Highway 99 underpass, useful for street bikes and wheelchairs. The partners have funding to stretch it next year to Neece Drive, where a boat ramp opened last year.
The Carpenter Road end has new soccer fields. Work could start nearby next year on trails and floodplain restoration, thanks to a grant to the city and the Tuolumne River Trust.
The park’s centerpiece in the 2001 vision is the Gateway area, between the Ninth Street and Highway 99 bridges. It has a small restored floodplain and someday could host large gatherings, reached by better bike and walking paths from downtown.
The master plan update is being done by the Modesto office of Westwood, formerly O’Dell Engineering. It began in 2023 with several meetings for the public and has continued with detailed study of how new projects might affect the environment. No specifics have been released on possible attractions.
The plan could be ready for public comment in the fall, said an email Friday from Sonya Severo, public relations and legislative affairs manager for Modesto. Interested people can check the plan’s website.
This story was originally published August 1, 2025 at 12:30 PM.
