Manton Parks Rural Community Center

When the powers that be abandon rural communities, it's up to residents, families, and farmers to jump in and become self-sufficient. This is Manton's story of resilience and self-reliance, and Manton Parks is at the center of our community's quest to maintain and build its educational, recreational and economical vibrance through community action.

When the Manton School was closed down by the local school district in 2018, a once lively school and the central gathering hub in Manton was left to exist empty on its own, without stewardship, devoid of the life it had offered the community for decades. The children of hundreds of families were left to choose being bussed to more populous areas or homeschool options. For more than half a decade, the school sat mostly empty. 

In 2022, the community rallied together to fund the purchase of the campus, bringing it under local control again through the newly formed Manton Parks non-profit organization. In October of 2023, Manton Parks closed escrow on the campus after raising $86,000 from the community and a generous $75,000 grant from the McConnell foundation. 

Today, Manton Parks is a self-sustaining non-profit that is central to the social, recreational and business aspects of our small town. Run by an all-volunteer Board of Directors, the events and activities on campus are hosted by volunteer community members or local other non-profits. 

The campus is home to the locally-run Manton Education Council’s homeschool and after-school programs. 

Individuals and experts in their fields bring social events and workshops to campus, such as teaching the art of fermentation, sourdough baking, Native American traditions, and historical lectures about local California history.

A low-cost commercial kitchen and a digitally-enabled “Zoom room” create small business empowerment opportunities to support rural entrepreneurs and groups needing more formal space to work to achieve economic independence and success. 

Manton Parks is a space "for the community, by the community," offering a place for people to gather, learn, grow businesses, recreate, and more. We're proud of our resilience and our will to succeed. We are grateful to all donors who wish to support our non-profit's mission of keeping our rural traditions strong and empowering those who live and work on homesteads in the North State.