Donnelly Park’s wooden play park began with an idea from a ten-year-old. Thousands of neighbors helped build it. The skate park remembers a young Turlocker who wanted more children to discover skating. And the pond that ties the grounds together has a practical job beneath its familiar scenery: collecting stormwater.
Updated 2026.
Visit: 600 Pedras Road, Turlock. Donnelly occupies the block bordered by Pedras Road, Dels Lane, Hawkeye Avenue and Donnelly Park Drive.
The pond and the park, since 1974
Donnelly opened to the public in 1974, according to the city’s Adopt-A-Park history. Today, the city lists the grounds at 40 acres, including a ten-acre man-made storm basin. The water is part of Turlock’s drainage system, as well as the center of a large recreation space. The city’s park inventory describes two playgrounds, restrooms, a half basketball court and open areas for play.
Around the pond there is room for birdwatching, walks and family picnics. Swimming, fishing and boating are prohibited.
The ten-year-old who helped build a landmark
Augusta Bates, daughter of former mayor Brad Bates, wanted a wooden play park for Turlock. At age ten, she took the idea to local organizations and businesses. Rotary’s account of the project says an Oakdale playground inspired her, and that she visited more than 20 civic groups and businesses. The effort became the Turlock Children’s Play Park, completed on April 19, 1998.
The Journal’s report on its later renaming describes more than $80,000 in donations and more than 2,400 volunteers assembling the structure in four and a half days. Playground designers Leathers and Associates helped turn the idea into plans that a community could build.
In September 2018, the City Council unanimously approved the name Augusta Bates Children’s Play Park. Her father requested the recognition and agreed to pay for the sign change. The renaming coverage also links to filmmaker Brian Zarka’s documentary of the original effort, including the construction and ribbon cutting.
The tiles are part of the story
The decorated tiles around the play park were a fundraising device before they became a recognizable feature. Rotary’s history records the sale of 12-inch-square tiles for $25 each; families and businesses decorated them with their own stories. In 2017, Turlock Sunrise Rotary returned to replace tiles, repair wood, weatherproof the structure and repaint worn areas. The city and the Pitman High School basketball team helped. The club’s restoration report documents the restoration.
Why the skate park carries Brandon Koch’s name
Brandon Koch was a Turlock skateboarder who died of adrenocortical cancer in 2012, at 26. His aunt Judith Suliman organized a petition and fundraising campaign to rename the city’s skate park for him. More than 1,000 signatures supported the effort. The dedication took place on April 12, 2013, the first anniversary of his death, at the original skate park on Starr Avenue. Friends marked the occasion by bringing their boards and skating together. The Journal’s dedication report records the community effort and the memorial monument.
The skate park arrived at Donnelly later. The City Council approved relocation in August 2013 as part of plans to sell the former site to Turlock Irrigation District. Construction began in August 2015, but wet weather pushed the opening back repeatedly. Skaters finally used the new facility on August 19, 2016. Rails, stairs, ramps and manual pads gave them more ways to practice; the memorial was also to move with the park. The opening-day report explains the move and why Koch’s friends considered it a fitting place to remember him.
A gathering place that people still care for
The volunteer connection continues. At Love Turlock on April 25, 2026, Stanislaus State athletes and coaches helped clean play structures, trim trees, remove weeds and maintain Donnelly. The university’s account describes teams from several sports working alongside the community. The park also hosts the city’s long-running Turkey Trot, with the 52nd annual event scheduled for November 21, 2026.
Using Donnelly Park today
- For a picnic: the city lists 14 reservable lettered areas, A–N, including three covered areas. Seventeen numbered picnic areas are first come, first served. Use the Donnelly picnic-area map to choose a spot.
- For a celebration: reservations run March 1 through October 31. The city’s rental page provides availability links and the Thursday-before-the-weekend booking cutoff. Ask Recreation at (209) 668-5594 about a specific date.
- For skating: the official skate-park page lists hours of 7 a.m. to dusk and describes the skate park and surrounding area as ADA accessible. Bring a helmet and protective gear.
- For the pond and grounds: the park map and rules lists general park hours of 6 a.m. to dusk. Keep dogs on a leash of six feet or less. The pond is not a swimming, fishing or boating destination; alcohol and tobacco are prohibited.
What could change next
In June 2026, the city sought residents’ input while preparing a state park-grant application. Ideas included playground and restroom improvements, interior paths and a bridge over the lake, a bike track, outdoor fitness equipment, a multi-sport court and a dog park. These were proposals under consideration, rather than a list of completed amenities. The Journal’s June 17 report offers a useful snapshot of what residents were being asked to consider.
For a different side of Turlock’s park history, read about Columbia Park and its rebuilt pool or Crane Park. Our parks guide compares places to picnic, play, walk and swim across town.
