Perez Park
SIZE	1.7 Acres
LOCATION	2326 Sandy Beach Way, South of Sea Cliff Way (LAKESIDE)
PARK FEATURES	Open Play Area Playground Equipment Shade Structure Picnic Area/Tables Benches
COMPLETED	2006
BIOGRAPHY	Pat Perez has made an indelible mark on the Elk Grove community. As an active resident for 19 years, Pat's determination to make a difference led him to elected office and more than a decade of service on the Community Services District (CSD) Board of Directors. Like many parents, Pat's community activism started with a desire to provide greater recreational opportunities for his kids. Pat coached youth soccer for his son Mike's team in 1990 and 1991 and his daughter Natalie's team in 2001. Seeing the need for additional parks, open space, and managed growth, Pat volunteered for several community advisory groups including the Laguna Parks Task Force (1990), the Franklin/Laguna Area Community Planning Advisory Council (1988-1991), the Sacramento County Project Planning Commission (1991-1992), the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District's Water Recycling Community Advisory Committee (1998-2001), the Sacramento Area Council of Government's Transportation Round Table (1999-2001), Home Field Advantage Celebrity Sports Night events (1993-2001), and the Elk Grove Community Services District Master Plan Committee (1991-1992). Pat was elected to the CSD Board of Directors in November 1992. During his time on the Board, from 1992-2004, Pat served as Board President and Vice President four times respectively. He also represented the CSD on a variety of outside governing and advisory boards including the Board of the Senior Center of Elk Grove. During his tenure on the Board, Pat joined his fellow Board members, CSD staff, and the community in celebrating several significant CSD building achievements including the construction of 45 parks, four fire stations, the Laguna Town Hall, CSD Wackford Community & Aquatic Complex and a state-of-the-art fire department training facility. District services also improved with re-establishment of Fire Department ambulance services, expanded partnerships with the Elk Grove Unified School District, the County of Sacramento, youth sports organizations, and other service groups. Pat's commitment to the environment and open space preservation was a major influence in the meandering design of landscape and lighting corridors in the Laguna area. Pat encouraged the use of bicycles and public transportation and supported planning efforts that allowed residents to traverse the District safely. His grass-roots spirit also influenced the creation of a successful District-wide volunteer program that saves the District thousands of dollars each year. In 2004, Pat retired from the CSD Board of Directors. His service to Elk Grove has continued through involvement on the Elk Grove Cares Committee, which in 2005 raised over $32,000 to purchase a van conversion and wheelchair for another well-known local activist. Recreation remains a priority for Pat, too. When he's not working as a manager at the California Energy Commission, Pat enjoys snow skiing in Lake Tahoe, playing tennis, and traveling abroad.
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