Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve has been recognized with two prestigious accolades by OHI during its annual conference in Oklahoma City on November 6. The preserve received the “Large Park of the Year” and “Plan-It Green Park of the Year” awards, underscoring its commitment to exceptional guest experiences and environmental sustainability.
This marks the fifth time Santee Lakes has been honored with the Large Park of the Year award and the ninth time with the Plan-It Green Park of the Year title.
The awards reflect the preserve’s dedication to delivering high-quality services and environmental stewardship. “Santee Lakes is honored to be named the National 2024 Large Park of the Year and Plan-it Green Park of the Year award at the Outdoor Hospitality Industry (OHI) Annual Conference and Awards of Excellence ceremony,” Cory Kading, park and recreation director, said, as reported by East County Magazine. Kading highlighted the park’s focus on enhancing guest experiences through its facilities and activities.
The OHI Awards of Excellence recognize outstanding achievements within the outdoor hospitality industry. These awards celebrate excellence in operations, customer service, marketing, innovation, environmental practices, and collaboration with local communities.
Santee Lakes stood out for its guest experiences, innovative amenities, and positive visitor feedback. The preserve offers a wide range of recreational activities, including camping, fishing, boating, and special events, creating memorable moments for its over 650,000 annual visitors.
Originally a gravel mine, Santee Lakes was transformed into a seven-lake recreation area to support the city of Santee’s water recycling initiatives. The preserve cleans wastewater for irrigation use, preventing millions of gallons from entering the Pacific Ocean. Today, the lakes host various recreational opportunities while showcasing the success of environmental innovation
The Plan-It Green Park of the Year award also recognizes the preserve’s environmental initiatives, such as recycling two million gallons of water daily through its water recycling facility. This effort not only supports recreational activities but also diverts over 730 million gallons of treated water annually from the Pacific Ocean.
In addition to water recycling, the park operates a Solar RV Storage project with 14,000 solar arrays, generating half of its energy needs while offering in-demand RV storage.
Owned and operated by Padre Dam Municipal Water District, the 190-acre preserve also features amenities such as trails, playgrounds, and birdwatching opportunities, with approximately 230 bird species identified within the park. These features enhance the overall visitor experience while promoting conservation and education.
