For far too long, Stocktonians went without a proper shade structure at Weber Point Event Center located at 221 N. Center St., Weber Point in downtown Stockton.

The shade structure that provides coverage over Stockton's most beautiful park was originally constructed in the 1990s along with the rest of the park and its features. The Weber Point Event Center is a 9.7-acre site dedicated to serving Stockton residents through festivals, concerts, celebrations, and more! Before diving into the numbers, facts, and future of what lies ahead for Weber Point and the Event Center, let's first dive into the historical importance of this park:

Originally, just years after the founder of Stockton, Captain Charles M. Weber, obtained a 49,000-acre Mexican land grant called Rancho Campo de los Franceses, he built his house on what is now called Weber Point. His house was a two-story adobe and redwood house, and it's considered the very first house built in Stockton, which was constructed in 1850. For many decades, it was also considered the largest house in Stockton.

Although it lasted over half a century, the beautiful waterfront house was later destroyed by fire in 1917, and the location where it stood is now a historical landmark recognized by the State of California. This landmark now serves as a community event space where families enjoy the water view, playground, interactive and fun water features, and various events from time to time.

But on hot summer days, it's not uncommon to see people pass out or even need EMT assistance due to the scorching heat. Due to this, it's important to have large, healthy trees for shade, and in addition, a large shade structure and canopy just in case of a concert or celebration, so people can gather outdoors while staying safe from the dangerous sun.

According to City of Stockton official documents, Huntington Designs Associates Inc. conducted an inspection of the shading structure in October of 2021, three months after the request of the City of Stockton.

Prior to the inspection, James Wong, a project manager from the City of Stockton, reported that cables connecting parts of the structure had come apart, which required an emergency reattachment, according to the Weber Point Event Center inspection and repair recommendations report from October of 2021.

The report also noted that the fabric membrane, which typically lasts about 15 years and provides structural support, was in poor condition and needed repairs, along with various other issues. The report also recommended repainting the structure.

In November of 2021, the Stockton City Council allocated nearly $13 million in discretionary funding for various community improvements, including $1,250,000 for the renovation of the Weber Point shade structure.

According to the City of Stockton's official documents, the stage of the rehabilitation process for the iconic structure was Stabilization & Partial Demolition, where work to repaint the shade structure, remove the fabric membrane, and address various other issues began in April of 2022.

It wasn't until October 2024 that the fabric membrane was finally installed, and in November 2024, the project was officially completed.

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