The transition of the Brandon Koch Memorial Skate Park from Starr Avenue to Donnelly Park has had unexpected setbacks in the completion of the project.

The park’s transition comes after the Turlock City Council voted in August 2013 to move the park due to the sale of the land it sits on to the Turlock Irrigation District.

“The goal was to have it open in March, but due to wet weather we were unable to meet that goal,” said Eric Schulze, superintendent of Turlock Parks, Recreation, and Public Facilities.

The Donnelly Park project is estimated at a $240,000 total cost and funds will be covered by some of the proceeds from the sale to TID.

Wormhoudt Incorporated is contracted for the project and was unable to pour the concrete or work in the dirt appropriately due to the rain.

“The contractor will come back out pending weather,” said Schulze. “The earliest it will open is probably May, unless another wet month continues to set it back.”

The park design, complete with rails, stairs and manual pads, will incorporate many different things from parks around the region to create one completely unique. It offers 28 skating elements, an Americans with Disabilities Act compliant drinking fountain, park identification sign, security lights, security camera, shade trees, benches, a picnic area, portable restroom and trash receptacles.

“We’re excited to get this going,” said Schulze. “There has been lots of interest from the community with people calling and asking questions regarding the process. The community will have a nice new skate park—unique to the region for sure.”

Koch was an avid skateboarder and spent much of his free time at the Turlock skate park until he was diagnosed with adrenocortical cancer. He died in 2012 and in 2013 the skate park was officially renamed the Brandon Koch Memorial Skate Park. The memorial included a decorative granite monument with a special skateboard plaque made by longtime friend Kameron Schumann, which will be part of the new skate park.