If you’ve spent any time around the Incline Village Skate Park, you may have seen something unexpected, our Principal Engineer and owner, Mike Lefrancois, riding alongside his son. On any given afternoon, you might even catch Mike attempting a kickflip or two (with varying degrees of success!). For our family, this project wasn’t just another engineering assignment, it was personal.
The revitalization and expansion of the Incline Village Skate Park gave our team the opportunity to help create a space where local kids, families, and riders of all ages can gather, challenge themselves, and build community. As both engineers and Tahoe residents, we understand that successful public projects need to do more than look great, they need to perform for decades in one of the most demanding mountain environments in the country.
This project was delivered through a Design-Build contract, with Lefrancois Engineering providing the civil engineering support to skate park designers and builders Spohn Ranch, helping to bring the vision to life. While the skate features capture everyone’s attention, there’s an incredible amount of engineering happening beneath the surface.
In the Sierra, every project must account for significant snow loads, spring runoff, freeze-thaw cycles, and the unique environmental regulations that protect Lake Tahoe. Our team designed drainage systems that move water efficiently away from the skating surface, helping reduce ice formation, improve rider safety, and extend the life of the facility. We also incorporated stormwater management features and TRPA Best Management Practices (BMPs) to support compliance with the regional environmental standards.
These are the details that often go unnoticed, but they make all the difference in how a facility performs year after year.
Hiring a local engineering firm also meant working with a team that understands the realities of building in Tahoe. We know the permitting process, the environmental requirements, and the challenges of designing infrastructure that must withstand heavy snowfall, mountain weather, and seasonal drainage. That local knowledge helps projects move efficiently while creating facilities that truly fit our community.
For Mike, this project has become even more meaningful after construction wrapped up. Today, instead of reviewing plans, he’s sharing the park with his son, celebrating new tricks, enjoying time together, and occasionally proving that engineers can still have a little fun on four wheels.
At Lefrancois Engineering, we believe the best projects are the ones that improve everyday life. Whether we’re designing roadways, utility systems, parks, or recreational facilities, our goal is always the same: create infrastructure that serves our community today and continues serving it for generations to come.
Because sometimes the most rewarding part of engineering isn’t what you build…it’s getting to enjoy it with your family afterward.
