T-Mobile awards Hometown Grant of $50,000 to City of South Lake Tahoe for Ski Run Community Park

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - South Lake Tahoe was one of 25 small towns to be awarded a Hometown Grant from T-Mobile, and a check was presented to Mayor Devin Middlebrook in the amount of $50,000 to be used for the Ski Run Community Park.

T-Mobile representatives were at the site of the new park on Friday to not only present the check but to explain how the company's five-year, $25 million grant program will help the people and organizations who help small towns across America. They said the $50K check for the park is the largest grant they've issued as they are usually $25,000-$35,000.

"The park will create much-needed recreation access in our community," said Middlebrook. "It will help more people in the Ski Run neighborhood to enjoy the beauty of Lake Tahoe that we all love."

The Ski Run Community Park has been a dream for the neighborhood for nearly ten years and it is close to reality due to the support of community partners like T-Mobile. Construction of the park is expected to get underway this summer. It will feature an iconic play structure, a climbing boulder, a plaza, a mural wall, and a large community table.

Chris McNamara of Friends of Ski Run said when they started the process of building the park they didn't realize the costs and processes involved and appreciated the donation.

"This is huge," he exclaimed.

"When a company steps up, its appreciated," said Dana Jorgenson with Assemblyman Frank Bigelow's office.

Launched in April 2021, T-Mobile Hometown Grants is a $25 million, five-year initiative to support the people and organizations who help small towns across America thrive and grow by providing funding to kickstart important new community development projects. Since the program’s start, T-Mobile has given more than $4.4 million dollars to kickstart 100 community development projects across 36 states, including South Lake Tahoe. Hometown Grants are provided every quarter to up to 25 towns. Every small town with a population of less than 50,000 people with a vision for how to make their community even stronger than it is today are eligible and encouraged to apply.