Coupled with Sparks Marina Park which was redeveloped into a major recreation center and park drawing thousands of visitors a day, the combined 250 acres (Sparks Marina Park and Legends at Sparks Marina) is a destination for residents and visitors alike.  The Marina site was formerly a barrow pit and was an eyesore for decades until a major flood filled the pit with water in 1997.  City leaders moved forward on developing a blighted area into what is now the gem of Sparks, Nevada.

This case study was submitted to the Alliance for Innovation for consideration at the 2010 Transforming Local Government conference.