Marty Yerby’s vision of a vibrant westside is getting closer to reality as the community center named in his honor has reopened and offering a free drop-in afterschool program.

The Marty Yerby Building, located in Columbia Park, used to house the Police Athletics League program and reopened in 2009 as a community center. The center was shutdown during COVID and just now able to reopen, with new ADA compliant bathrooms and audio and visual upgrades.

“When the kids get out of school they can go there and get help with homework. There are computers, games, arts & crafts, and it’s near the playground, basketball courts and tennis courts,” said Recreation Superintendent Juan Vargas.

Students from kindergarten through eighth grade can drop-in anytime from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. There is a waiver form that parents/guardians need to fill out, but no fee for the program.

The inside of the Marty Yerby Center is not the only vibrant part of the facility. In 2024, the Marty Yerby building was part of a mural project at Columbia Park. Local artist Nicolle Jones, working with the Stanislaus Arts Council — and funded through the Heartland Creative Corps grant — created three murals at the longstanding park located in the heart of Turlock’s westside neighborhoods. Each mural shares messages of love and positivity. The Marty Yerby mural proudly states “Love Always Wins,” complementing the other murals’ messages of “We Rise by Lifting Others” and “No Place for Hate.”

The Columbia Park community center is named after Marty Yerby, a former Turlock City Council member who was a longtime supporter of youth events and the westside of Turlock before his death in 2006. He served the community in many ways — as a Little League coach, a fundraiser for Turlock Youth Football, and a member and president of the Turlock Westside Neighborhood Association. He was instrumental in the installation of new playground equipment at Wakefield School; served on the Turlock Together Board; and was involved with Turlock Leadership and the Turlock Beautification Board. He was one of few people to receive the Rotary Paul Harris Award from both the morning and noontime Rotary Clubs. He was honored with the Humanitarian of the year in 2006. 

For more information about the Marty Yerby afterschool drop-in program, call 209-668-5594. The center is located at 595 High St., Turlock.