South Lake Tahoe wins excellence award for Lakeview Commons

The City of South Lake Tahoe received an Award of Excellence from the California Park and Recreation Society for Lakeview Commons at El Dorado Beach. The City’s recognition in the category of Park Planning will be honored at the 2013 California and Pacific Southwest Recreation and Park Training Conference, held in San Jose March 6-8.

On June 20, 2012, Lakeview Commons at El Dorado Beach was dedicated to the public for their use, recreation and enjoyment of the surroundings and the incomparable view of Lake Tahoe. Lakeview Commons was truly a team effort among the California Tahoe Conservancy, The City of South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County.

The project was made possible by the families and friends that provided this land to El Dorado County and to the California voters who passed Proposition 84, the 2006 Parks and Water Bond Act, which funded the majority of the costs of this project.

According to Lauren Thomaselli, Recreation Coordinator, “The CPRS awards program is the highest recognition our agency can receive and our award is a credit to the (staff, volunteers, partners, etc) that made this happen. We are honored to receive this award on behalf of our residents.”

CPRS Executive Director Jane H. Adams states, “These agencies represent the finest in recreation programming and community wide initiatives, park planning, facility design, and marketing and communications in California. Park and recreation agencies throughout the state provide families, individuals, and groups access to the serenity and inspiration of nature; spaces and places for play and exercise; opportunities for directed and self-directed recreation; positive alternatives for youth to reduce crime and mischief; and activities that facilitate social connections, human development, therapy, the arts, and lifelong learning. CPRS and the award sponsors, Rain Bird, Little Tikes Commercial Play Systems, and RJM Design Group, Inc., are proud to recognize the excellent parks, recreation programs, services and facilities provided to Californians.”

The California Park and Recreation Society presented awards in 5 categories:

· Creating Community Award of Excellence
· Excellence in Design – Park Planning
· Excellence in Design – Facility Design
· Marketing & Communications Award of Excellence
· Professional and Service

CPRS is a membership organization with 3400 members representing the 535 local parks and recreation agencies throughout the state. The mission of CPRS is to advance the profession and its members through education, networking, resources, and advocacy.

— Tracy Franklin is the public information officer for the City of South Lake Tahoe.