Neighborhood park reopens after $17.1 million overhaul
A renovated Fourth Street Park drew a capacity crowd Friday as the city of Modesto opened new water features, expanded recreation areas and upgraded facilities on the 6.5-acre site near the south edge of downtown.
The city spent $17.1 million from state and local sources to complete the project, which includes a heated lap pool, three waterslides, expanded playground and picnic areas, new soccer and skate spaces and an enlarged Maddux Youth Center that officials say will open about a month from now.
The fenced aquatics area opened at 4 p.m. Friday and reached its legal capacity of 247 people within an hour, underscoring strong neighborhood demand for recreational water access during the summer months.
- Park size: 6.5 acres
- Project cost: $17.1 million
- Aquatics capacity: 247
Most of the park remains free and open from dawn to dusk, but the aquatics area is fenced and carries admission fees. During the opening weekend, the city waived entry fees during these hours:
| Day | Waived hours |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
| Sunday | 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. |
After the waived weekend, admission will be $5 for visitors up to age 17 and $8 for others. The pool will be heated and used for lessons through October, officials said. The waterslides are scheduled to operate Thursdays through Sundays until Sept. 6, then resume next summer.
Local reaction: families celebrate new play options
Residents who live nearby turned out to try the new features. Martin and Ana Figueroa came from another block of Fourth Street with their 10-year-old daughter Naomi. “It’s amazing,” Ana said as Naomi splashed nearby. “Look at all the happy faces on the kids.”
“It’s amazing. Look at all the happy faces on the kids.” — Ana Figueroa
Also among the early visitors was David Pratt, who walked from his McHenry Avenue home with daughters Remi, 5, and Khalia, 3. “We’re very excited — the safety, the cleanliness,” Pratt said shortly before leaving. “The kids are tired.” Khalia singled out the tallest slide, roughly 20 feet tall, as her favorite.
“The kids are tired.” — David Pratt
Design features and future services
The aquatic area includes three slides — one of them about 20 feet tall and another with water sprays from roughly a dozen spouts — and a large bucket feature that tips when it fills. City workers removed fencing that had closed the park since November 2024 late Thursday, paving the way for the weekend opening.
The broader renovation also remodels and enlarges the Maddux Youth Center, which city officials expect to open about a month after the park reopening. The youth center will host programs for seniors and other age groups in addition to youth activities, providing additional year-round services tied to the park.
Context on park naming and neighborhood role
The site is one of Modesto’s oldest neighborhood parks. City officials noted the park had been renamed from Cesar Chavez when the renovation began; the Modesto City Council approved the change in June after reports alleging sexual assault by the late farm labor leader.
The renovated park is positioned to serve downtown and nearby neighborhoods with a combination of free open-space amenities and fee-based aquatics programming. The combination of heated lap swimming, lessons through October and seasonal waterslide operation aims to extend practical use beyond the height of summer while managing capacity at the fenced pool area.
City recreation officials point residents seeking details — including daily operating hours, lesson registration and seasonal schedules — to the official city website at modestogov.com.
The reopening marks the end of a multi-year closure for upgrades that city leaders say will provide safer, cleaner and more varied recreation options for families across Modesto.
