Securing a second grant of nearly half a million dollars from the California Department of Boating and Waterways (DBW), the City of Antioch now has the funding in place to complete the Antioch Marina Boat Launch Facility based on its original plans rather than a
scaled-back version that was being constructed due to a lack of funding, according to Phil Harrington, director of Capital Improvements.

“While the original plans included four launch lanes, restrooms, a bait shop, fish-cleaning facilities and a lighted walkway, due to a shortfall of grant funding the new launch would have been limited to just three lanes with no public restrooms for those using the launch,” said Harrington. “So the additional grant funding will allow the City to provide the type of quality amenities that users of the launch deserve and expect.”

The DBW, a state-run agency whose stated mission is to provide safe and convenient public access to California’s waterways, originally committed $3.8 million to the project, which allowed the City to begin construction on the facility as it continued to seek additional funding to complete the project based on the original plans.

“Until the second and final phase is completed, which is expected to be in mid-spring, there will be no launch fee for day use so that people can see for themselves what a far superior facility the new launch is,” said Harrington.  “Recreation is a big part of what attracts people to Antioch, and this highly-anticipated boat launch will not disappoint.”

Benjamin Cabal, a Deer Valley High School student who has been taking ROP Advanced Digital Photography, recently returned from Yosemite National Park and took these photos. He said that it’s an “incredible time of the year to go with the colors changing the leaves.”

By Allen Payton, Publisher

Antioch’s first full-service health club, Delta Park Athletic Club, will become a Gold’s Gym, starting September 1st.

Current members will be grandfathered in at their current rates, it was shared.

Neither current owners Ed and Cindy Wilkerson, nor Gold’s spokesman Dave Reiseman were available by phone or email, today.

Antioch resident Molly Gravelle, a long time employee of Delta Park, shared her thoughts.

“Since I don’t know much about how Golds runs their business, I don’t have much to say,” Gravelle said.  “Delta Park Athletic Club has been a great family run gym for 22 years and that will be missed.  However, as many members realize, it is in need of a ‘facelift’ and new equipment, so if Golds is going to provide that and keep it with a family atmosphere, then that will be good.”