INTRODUCING...

THE SUNRIVER HOMEOWNERS
AQUATIC & RECREATION CENTER (SHARC)

Despite below-freezing temperatures and light snow showers, about 70 dignitaries, contractors, owners and staff gathered for a Feb. 25 groundbreaking ceremony for the aquatic and recreation facilities that will be constructed on the amphitheater site on Beaver Drive.

The momentous event marked what will soon be Sunriver's newest amenities for owners and visitors. The projected $18.9 million project, expected to open in May 2012, will include indoor and outdoor pools, a lazy river, playground, amphitheater, fitness center, sledding hill and multi-use community spaces.

"For many of you in the audience this may appear to be the culmination of a two year effort. But in reality, this is the culmination of 40 years of thinking and planning," said John Salzer, resident and chair of the Communications Task Force as he addressed the crowd. "In fact, John Gray, one of Sunriver's founding fathers, always envisioned a 4,000 seat amphitheater here."

Following Salzer's brief history and introductions of key players in the project, SROA General Manager Bill Peck led the group in turning the first shovels of dirt. The name of the facility - selected by homeowners during an online voting contest - was revealed when a drape was pulled off the official site sign by Marilyn Myers, one of Sunriver's first residents. The project will now be known as the Sunriver Homeowners Aquatic & Recreation Center, or SHARC for short.

Non-resident owner Lisa Vande Voorde of San Mateo, Calif. submitted the winning moniker, which was one of six finalists from more than 300 name entries.

For more images, click photo album.

To view a short video of the ceremony, watch below.