San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
SANTEE LAKES WINS TOP PARK TITLE
National Association of RV Parks, Campgrounds presents the honor
For the third time in the last nine years, Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve was named “Large Park of the Year” by the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds.
The Colorado-based organization represents the interests of nearly 3,000 private RV parks and campgrounds in the United States and Canada.
Laura Koval, the preserve’s director of parks and recreation, picked up the award at the Outdoor Hospitality Conference & Expo in Raleigh, N.C., last month. She also brought back a second honor for Santee Lakes, the “Planit Green Park of the Year” for large parks. That award is given for parks that are committed to sustainability practices.
Koval said that despite the challenges Santee Lakes faced during much of the COVID-19 pandemic, the recreation spot off Fanita Parkway “still managed to embrace our family friendly camping culture and create a muchneeded respite from stressors in the world.”
“I have such deep appreciation for the staff,” Koval said. “We had two shutdowns during COVID, but we didn’t lay off any staff or furlough anyone. We just found other things for them to do. We bonded together as a team to make sure we could finish the projects ($9 million for two new buildings). We went through a lot in the middle of COVID, running a campground and trying to remain profitable.”
Koval said one of the highlights for her at the conference was when comments from park visitors were read out loud by award presenters. As part of the entry process, Koval said one of her colleagues sent in comments from Santee Lakes visitors to share with judges, and that she had not heard them before the conference.
Koval said that as soon as she heard certain comments being read, she knew they were from Santee Lakes visitors.
“As one guest said, ‘First campground I’ve been to in a while that feels like home,’ ” Koval said. “(Another said) ‘I am so impressed… the customer service we received was great, and I felt like all of the employees were genuinely happy to have us visit. I’m already checking their website for cancellations, as I cannot wait to go back!’”
The organization awards “Park of the Year” in four categories: small, medium, large and mega. Judges make their decisions based on a number of criteria: guest experiences, all-around excellence in operations, professionalism, marketing, customer service, and industry involvement.
In a news release, President and CEO Paul Bambei said that “to win both Park of the Year and Plan-it Green Park of the Year in 2021 is quite an accomplishment... Santee Lakes is a shining star reaching the highest level of recognition.”
This year is Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve’s 60th anniversary of operation. The 190-acre preserve with seven lakes filled with recycled water hosts more than a quarter-million visitors annually.
Amenities at the site include camping, cabin rentals, fishing, boating, playgrounds, walking trails, facility rentals, special events and more than 200 species of birds. The park is owned and operated by Padre Dam Municipal Water District but is self-sustaining. The park runs on guest user fees, grants and awards, collaborations with community groups, and sponsorships.
The recreation preserve came to be when the Santee County Water District (now Padre Dam) in 1959 embarked on a project of recycling wastewater for irrigation and commercial purposes.
At the end of the treatment process, a chain of seven recycled water lakes were developed. Boating and fishing were given the OK in 1961 and Santee Lakes opened to the public for recreation.