News Release
TAHOE — Design Workshop, an international landscape architecture, planning and urban design firm, is pleased to announce the Lake Tahoe studio team has been selected to lead the development of both the San Ramon Trails Master Plan (California) and the Spooner Lake State Park Backcountry Master Plan (Nevada). Both projects will include plans for new trails and open space that balance increasing recreational demands with wildlife and environmental preservation.
“As avid bikers, hikers, trail runners, skiers and stewards of the outdoors, we are excited to have the opportunity to work on the San Ramon Trails Master Plan and Spooner Lake State Backcountry Master Plan,” said Ben Fish, principal at Design Workshop based in the Lake Tahoe studio. “We are committed to doing whatever it takes to achieve the delicate balance of conservation, cultural resource protection and recreational access for both of these important areas.”
The city of San Ramon is surrounded by protected open spaces consisting of beautiful rolling hills that visually connect the community to nature. These public lands have a network of old ranching roads that can be improved upon to create a cohesive and enjoyable trail system for this growing San Francisco Bay Area community. The Design Workshop team will lead a master planning process to identify the opportunities and benefits of community trails connecting people to the outdoors while preserving wild areas for future generations.
At more than 12,000 acres, nestled within the Lake Tahoe Region, the Spooner Backcountry is a recreation and natural gem of the Nevada State Parks system. There are more than 60 miles of trails, including the famous Flume Trail and Tahoe Rim Trail attracting visitors from around the world. Design Workshop, along with key stakeholders, will work to develop a master plan for the area that balances the increasing recreational demands, while preserving sensitive lands and protecting cultural resources of both native people and historic cabins from the Comstock mining era. Using heatmaps, trail counters, analysis mapping, and community feedback, the final plan will serve as a guide for management of the backcountry for the next 20 years.
Founded in 1969, Design Workshop is an internationally renowned design firm specializing in landscape architecture, urban planning, and strategic services with seven studios in the U.S. and projects spanning the globe. Our work focuses on the intersection of art, community, environment, and economics to increase social equity and create places of meaning and resonance. For additional information follow us at @designworkshop on LinkedIn and Instagram.