With recreation being a vital aspect of daily life, Turlock residents have a number of City parks to choose from. Whether it is for exercise, taking the family pet on a walk, or merely to socialize, parks continue to serve community members as an outlet for recreation and fun.

1.  Crane Park

As one of the City’s oldest parks, Crane Park continually draws in thousands of visitors with its myriad of amenities, including basketball and tennis courts, horseshoe pits, two playgrounds, a public restroom and several large picnic areas equipped with barbecues. The 7.7-acre park is surrounded by a paved walkway covered by large trees, making it an ideal location for runners, joggers and dog-walkers alike.

“Whenever I want to play tennis with my dad, I come to this park,” said Heath Rojas, a 12th grade student at Turlock High School. “It has the tennis courts, which other parks in the city don’t have. Every time I’m here, I always see people walking their dogs or exercising too. It’s a great park.”

The park also serves as one of the top rented facilities through the City as many community members reserve the large picnic areas for social gatherings and birthday parties. During the summer months alone, the Parks and Recreation Department reported Crane Park as having 144 rentals with approximately 7,667 visitors, bringing in a total of $6,145 in revenue for the City.

Crane Park is located at the northeast quadrant 1555 E. Canal Drive, and is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

2. California State University, Stanislaus

While the local university may not be an official City park, Turlock residents consider California State University, Stanislaus as one of the top open spaces in the city for recreation and exercise. According to a parks survey sent out to Turlock residents in 1994, CSU Stanislaus ranked within the top five places to visit in Turlock for exercise and socializing due to the atmosphere and sheer amount of open space.

With several ponds, hundreds of large trees, and even small streams and waterfalls, the park-like setting of CSU Stanislaus continues to be a community favorite.

California State University, Stanislaus is located at One University Circle, off of Monte Vista Avenue.

3. Columbia Park

Being the only City park with a full-size community swimming pool, Columbia Park is a popular gathering spot for Turlock residents during the hot summer months. Adjacent to the swimming pool is a small water park feature for children to play in while running through large sprinklers. Other amenities at the 4-acre park include basketball courts, a large playground, a horseshoe pit, a multi-purpose court with soccer goals, and two large covered picnic areas equipped with barbecues.

Columbia Park is also home to the Marty Yerby community building, where an after school program is held during the school year. During the summer months, the Marty Yerby center is utilized for an educational summer camp, which served more than 40 youth living in and around the Columbia Park area during Summer2013.

Columbia Park is located in the southwest quadrant of 595 High Street, and is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.