The Sacramento State Aquatic Center and Boating Safety Center was recognized as a “regional treasure” during an award ceremony Friday night.

The California Park and Recreation Society’s District 2 inducted the Aquatic Center into its Hall of Honor, marking the first time a facility has received such recognition.

“The Hall of Honor committee felt that we needed to have an award for a place or maybe even a program or more of a thing that has impacted the community recreation,” said Barry Trute, former president of the California Park and Recreation Society. “The Aquatic Center has been a major impact in the community of Sacramento.”

This is the first year of the Regional Treasure category and the Aquatic Center was its first inductee.

Etablished in 1981, the Aquatic Center at Lake Natoma has serviced the community with water sport activities and recreation. The center offers university kinesiology classes and leisure classes for the general public.

The Aquatic Center is an eight-acre piece of land that encompasses many state agencies. The agencies work together to help run a venue that services the surrounding community.

The facility is on federally owned land located within a state park. Within that, there is an interagency agreement between California State Parks and Sac State. The university also has an agreement with Associated Students Inc. to run programs at the Aquatic Center.

The California Department of Boating Waterways is the major funding source for the Aquatic Center. The department is responsible for much of maintenance and construction of the property. Its mission is to provide access to the public to the waterways.

The award ceremony began with opening remarks followed by the presentation of scholarships. The presentation of individual awards was for people who were recognized for contributions they made in the community.

“When we look at something in recognition and you can provide recreation, we can service the community and we can service Sac State,” said Brian Dulgar, director of the Aquatic Center.

The induction into the Hall of Honor acknowledges the Aquatic Center’s past awards and its service to the community as a whole.

“The Hall of Honor is recognizing facilities and people who have given to the profession,” said Lisa Rudloff, president of the California Park and Recreation Society.

Each year the California Park and Recreation Society’s District 2 Committee Board votes and inducts one person into one of three categories: Professional, Leisure and now, Regional Treasure. The Aquatic Center is the first to be inducted in this category.

District 2 is the only one of 15 districts in the society to have a spot in the Hall of Honor.Trute said the Hall of Honor blends the past, present and future in recognizing individuals or facilities and bring it all together.

For the third consecutive year, the Alumni Center hosted the awards and honor banquet. An application to the Hall of Honor must be completed to garner consideration.

After the individual awards came Hall of Honor inductions.

Paul M. Hagan, who was first administrator of the Cordova Recreation and Park District, was posthumously inducted. Next came the Aquatic Center’s Regional Treasure.

“We truly have become now a part of the Sacramento community,” said Cindi Dulgar, youth programs director and operations director of the Aquatic Center.

Sergio Saldana can be reached at [email protected]