Community participates in first meeting on new SLT Recreation Center

The visions are big for a new recreation center in South Lake Tahoe. A large indoor aquatic center, a senior center with services, a modern and sustainable building. A large gymnasium

Almost 50 people attended the first of four community meetings to discuss what the South Lake Tahoe Recreation Center will provide, how it will look and function. New Mayor Wendy David and Mayor Pro Tem Austin Sass were at the meeting long with members of the Planning Commission, Park and Recreation Commission, and other citizens.

"We are here to create a community driven plan that is a road map to future recreational needs of the city," said Lauren Thomaselli, the City of South Lake Tahoe Recreation Manager. She and Asst. Public Works Director Jim Marino were on hand to answer questions and introduce the architects assigned to planning the center, Williams and Paddon, out of Roseville, Calif.

"We have hired an architectural firm that will do an analysis on what we can do with the existing coverage at the current recreation center," said Marino. "This process will generate four alternatives for rehabilitating the center."

The architects will bring six plans to the public to discuss, the four that use the existing footprint and two that take down the current building and start from scratch.

The public was encouraged to share their ideas for a building that will serve the needs of the community and visitors for the next 30 to 50 years.

There are four objectives for the Recreation Complex:
1) Environmental Objective: Make it green, energy efficient, have a covered pool to eliminate wasted energy and one that uses local products and natural vegetation.
2) Community Objective: Increased visibility that will compliment the other recreation opportunities in South Lake Tahoe, become regionally significant and provide both high energy and passive recreation.
3) Economic Objective: Increase revenue, great rentable spaces that can be used all four seasons.
4) Aesthetic Objective: Have a timeless design so not dated looking in 20 years, include archways and bridges to adjacent facilities, include play features that are also works of art, and one that integrates the mountain and lake appeal.

Whatever ideas come out of the public meetings they need to fit into the approved Recreation Master Plan. Out of that plan it was decided that the community needed an expanded gymnasium, weight room, front desk that can serve as a visitor center, a banquet room, expanded indoor/outdoor aquatic feature, social space, an expanded kitchen, and an expanded senior center with a wellness center.

The City and El Dorado County are close to working out a property line adjustment in the area of the Recreation Center, Senior Center, museum and up to Highway 50 at the old Alta Mira site. Those final details are expected to be worked out between the two in January.

The next chance for the community to participate in the future of the recreation center will be in February, followed by meetings in March and April as well as presentations to City Council.