In 1981, the A. Miriam Jamison Children’s Center was established in response to the growing number of reported child abuse cases in Kern County.
The Jamison Children’s Center is a 24-hour Temporary Shelter Care Facility, operated by the Human Services Department of Kern County. As the only emergency shelter in Kern County for abused, neglected and exploited children, Jamison Children’s Center temporarily houses children who are taken into protective custody by law enforcement agencies or social workers. Children come to Jamison Children’s Center from all backgrounds and walks of life.
In response to the needs of these children, Turner Park was built as a Westchester Kiwanis Club project. Turner Park is a four-acre park and includes a playground area and volleyball court, a covered area for picnics/parties, and lots of grass for kids to run and play. Westchester Kiwanis Charter member, Jim “Pop” Turner was instrumental in the actual building of the park along with ensuring that Westchester Kiwanis would provide equipment and ongoing maintenance of the park.
Since 1986, every two weeks, the Club has been mowing, edging, weed-whacking, and cutting the grass; keeping the area looking good for those deserving kids.
In 2001, the park was named in Jim Turner’s honor by the County Board of Supervisors, just two years before his passing.
