John Lazar Park, slated to be constructed in northeast Turlock, is one step closer to becoming a reality after the city council voted to award a $1.47 million construction bid to a Merced contracting firm.

TBS Contractors submitted the winning bid to build the park named in honor of former mayor John Lazar — continuing a city tradition of naming parks for past mayors.

The overall price tag for the project will be just over $1.9 million, which includes soft costs for construction management fees, staff time, inspections, and other contingencies.

All costs will be funded through the Park Development Tax Fund. No general fund money will be used.

Lazar, who served as mayor from 2006 to 2014, said he hopes the park will serve as a way to bring the community together.

“I hope it serves as a gathering place,” said Lazar, a Turlock native who attended Keyes Elementary School, Brown Junior High School, Turlock High, and Stanislaus State. “I hope the residents there will enjoy it and reflect on Turlock and what it means to all of us.”

Mayor Amy Bublak, and council members Kevin Bixel (District 1), Rebecka Monez (District 2), and Erika Phillips (District 4) voted in support of the project. Councilmember Cassandra Abram (District 3) recused herself from voting because she owns property within 500 feet of the proposed park.

According to Senior Civil Engineer Randy Jones, the city’s northeast master plan called for two parks to be constructed. The first was Dale Pinkney Park, named for the mayor who served Turlock from 1978 to 1982. The second, about half a mile away, will be named for Lazar, who served on the city council from 1992 to 2006, and was vice mayor in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

Bublak nominated Lazar for the honor in 2022, and collected letters from prominent Turlock citizens in support of the naming. That council — composed of Bublak and Monez, along with Pam Franco, Nicole Larson, and Andrew Nosrati — unanimously agreed to name the park in Lazar’s honor.

The project will be the centerpiece of the 65-unit Legends 3 subdivision, and the park itself will be bound by Haverford Drive (north), Merion Drive (south), Bethpage Street (west), and Tate Street (east).

The park will include perimeter sidewalks, and landscaping with trees, shrubs, turf, and landscape irrigation. Planned park amenities consist of playground equipment, a drinking fountain, a shade structure, benches, and safety lighting. 

“To be honest, I’ve had people come up to me and ask when the park is going to be completed. They think because my name’s on it, that I’m responsible for putting in the sod or planting shrubs and planting trees,” Lazar joked. “But this is such a kind gesture by the council. It’s a great reflection of my service to the city and what it means to me.”