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FAREWELL SKATE
skatepark farewell
Friends of Brandon Koch pose for a picture at his memorial on Saturday during a final skate session at the Starr Avenue location of the Turlock Skate Park before it's moved to Donnelly Park. - photo by Photo Contributed

A group of about 40 skateboarders gathered on Saturday for a final skate session at the Starr Avenue skate park. The Turlock Skate Park closed this week and construction of a new skate area at Donnelly Park is slated to begin construction in the next few months.

"There was so much nostalgia and overwhelming joy to see the park so full of all skateboarders doing great tricks. I'm really going to miss this place," wrote local skater Steven Martinez on his Facebook.

The skaters also took time to remember Turlock skater Brandon Koch, who died of a rare cancer in 2012. As a tribute to the local skateboarder who was involved in helping young people get into the sport, the Turlock Skate Park was renamed the Brandon Koch Memorial Skate Park in 2013.

The engraved stone and bronze skateboard that memorialized Koch will be moved to the new skate park when it opens at Donnelly Park.