Since 1966, residents at HumanGood’s Grand Lake Gardens, located in Oakland, California, have filled the six-story-building and its beautiful grounds with laughter and love. In October, the community gathered to celebrate the Grand Lake Gardens 50th anniversary, which was marked with a reception and dinner party themed, “The Pearl of Grand Lake Gardens.”
The event began with a reception in the lobby of the library, followed by dinner in the Grand Dining Hall. Tara McGuinness, regional vice president of HumanGood, welcomed residents and guests to the event.
Guest speakers included Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who also is a member of the Grand Lake Gardens Community Advisory Board. Lee’s mother was a resident at Grand Lake Gardens for almost five years and she spoke highly of the loving care her mother received from HumanGood team members during her residency. Community Advisory Board Chair Linda Rae Hardwick also spoke, adding, “This is a testament to the quality of care at Grand Lake Gardens and the continued development of resident-driven activity groups that keep us feeling young.” In addition, former Community Advisory Board Chair Dale Edmonson was also in attendance and recalled how he was present when Grand Lake Gardens had its first open house in 1966 and became the first community building ever built by HumanGood. According to Dale, “Since the beginning, it’s been Grand Lake Gardens’ sense of community that stands out for me. That feeling continues to be upheld by the community after 50 years of high-quality residential living.”
Grand Lake Gardens has changed vastly over the last half century with significant upgrades to the building, including the dining hall, which now features an outside walkway around the perimeter of the 6th floor that allows guests and residents to enjoy the scenic views of Oakland. In addition, the community is remodeling a space that will be utilized for resident activities. According to staff, future expansion is guaranteed, as Grand Lake Gardens works to accommodate more residents as well as residents’ families and guests.
McGuinness closed the evening’s celebration with a champagne toast honoring Grand Lake Gardens for their tremendous work with its residents’ quality of life. “Grand Lake Gardens is a vibrant community that will continue to progressively change in a positive way,” McGuinness says. “It will always be the pearl of HumanGood communities.”