With the recently approved land purchase agreement between the City of Turlock and Turlock Irrigation District, the City has moved the cannon previously outside of the War Memorial, although a permanent spot has not yet been chosen.
On April 28, Turlock City Council unanimously approved to sell three properties at 247 E. Canal Dr., 900 N. Palm St., and 250 Starr Ave. to TID at a price of $2.61 million.
The property sale, which includes the War Memorial, former Turlock Police Station, and Brandon Koch Memorial Skate Park, has been in talks for more than two years.
Although the agreement is now in place, it will not be finalized until Aug. 26, due to a grant that helped pay for the skate park and required the park remain open for 10 years. Once finalized, TID will lease the War Memorial to the City of Turlock to meet obligations through Feb. 29, 2016.
With the finalization eminent, the City of Turlock is moving the cannon that has stood in front of the War Memorial for years.
“As the City winds down its programming in the War Memorial building, it was important to protect the cannon from vandalism or theft,” the City of Turlock said in a news release.
For the time being, the cannon, which dates back to the Korean War, will be stored at the corporation yard, where it will be prepared to be included in the Fourth of July Parade.
In order to help find the cannon a new permanent home, the Parks, Arts and Recreation Commission (PARC) will host a discussion on the cannon’s relocation at the regularly scheduled May 13 meeting.
The City of Turlock announced that one suggested location is Central Park, located on corner of E. Main Street and Golden State Boulevard in Downtown Turlock.
The public is encouraged to attend the meeting and discussion other options for the cannon’s relocation.
PARC will discuss the relocation at 6 p.m. May 13 in the Yosemite Room of Turlock City Hall, 156 S. Broadway.
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