The City of Turlock Parks, Recreation and Community Commission welcomed back Commissioner Brent Bohlender at Wednesday’s meeting. He had previously served the commission for 22 years, and after sitting out a year per by-laws regarding term limits, Mr. Bohlender is back for more with a desire to serve.
Brent Bohlender originally joined the Commission to fill a vacancy of a member who did not wish to serve another term. After having contacted then Mayor Brad Bates to express his interest in serving on the commission, Bohlender was appointed.
Bohlender has called Turlock home for 61 years, and has shown a great amount of concern and care for his community. He is currently the District 2 County Board of Supervisors appointee for the Stanislaus County Parks and Recreation Commission, and is also currently the Community Liaison for the Turlock Aquatic Club. Bohlender graduated from California State University Stanislaus in 1986 where he earned a Masters Degree in Education. Having served the community as a school teacher for 33 years, Bohlender is now retired. He also coached water polo and swimming for 40 years within Stanislaus County.
After taking a year off from serving on the PRC Commission, Turlock Mayor John Lazar appointed Bohlender as a Commissioner once again at the Turlock City Council meeting on January 24, 2012.
“The changes on the commission have been dramatic over the years,” states Bohlender. “At one point the Parks and Recreation services was a separate Department in the city, and then we became a department within the Police Services, and then moved from that to become a part of Municipal Services where it now resides.”
Even the name of the Commission has changed from Parks and Recreation Commission to the current name of Parks, Recreation and Community Commission.
The Parks, Recreation and Community Commission consists of seven (7) members appointed by the Mayor with approval from the City Council. While there were brief discussions about the possibility of expanding the number of Commissioners on the PRC Commission, the number has remained the same.
According to the City of Turlock website, the Parks, Recreation and Community Commission shall encourage, stimulate, promote and foster programs for the enrichment of the City and hereby contribute to the quality of life in Turlock and develop an awareness in the business community, in local government and in the general public of the value and benefits of the constructive use of leisure time in Turlock.
The Parks, Recreation and Community Commission shall initiate, sponsor or conduct, alone or in cooperation with other public or private agencies and/or individuals, programs to further the development and public awareness of, and interest in, recreation, neighborhoods, community policing, youth master planning and senior master planning.
The goals stated for 2011 included; reviewing all current recreation programs and providing feedback to staff, establishing a commissioner sponsorship program for various facilities and programs, promoting parks and programs to the citizens of Turlock and surrounding communities, actively participating in the Recreation fundraising events, and proactively searching out funding opportunities to support the Commission’s mission.
Without specifics, Commissioner Bohlender looks forward to supporting the current Commission’s efforts.
“It is hard to say exactly what I hope to accomplish,” explains Bohlender in regards to his goals as a Commissioner. “Certainly the current Commission has continued to move in the same direction, looking into expanding opportunities for recreation in the community, whether it is the current drive to fund a new dog park, or looking into how to fund other projects, or looking long term to ensure that there are many and varied activities for the people of Turlock.”
The Turlock Parks, Recreation and Community Commission holds regularly scheduled meetings on the second Wednesday of each month. Meetings are held at Turlock City Hall, 156 S. Broadway, in the Yosemite Community Room and begin at 6:00pm.
For more information on the PRC Commission and meeting agendas, visit the City of Turlock website PRC Commision page here at this link.
