INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. – The Incline Village roundabout at the intersection of Mount Rose Highway and Tahoe Blvd will soon undergo improvements.

Known for its bronze animals, the talent of local artist June Brown, the roundabout was installed in 2012 as part of the Nevada Department of Transportation’s effort to improve roadways on the North Shore.

Over the years, invasive plants have overrun the roundabout and irrigation issues have prevented planted perennials from thriving. The sculptures and the traffic circle, with its low-mound design, have also been subject to car crashes.

Improvements focus on the safety and aesthetics of the roundabout, including raising the mound, adding irrigation, and incorporating elements that reflect the Tahoe East Shore’s natural beauty, such as granite boulders, fir and aspen trees, and a succession of perennials.

The project represents a public-private collaboration with strong community involvement and fundraising efforts to bring the vision to life.

Incline Village Main Street, a program through the Incline Village Crystal Bay Business & Community Association (IVCBA) to beautify and revitalize commercial areas, is leading the roundabout initiative, orchestrating funding and community involvement.

The traffic circle has had strong community participation since its inception, with residents envisioning the roundabout as a traffic solution and raising funds for the art display. Over the years, maintenance of the roundabout has passed from one community group to another. Incline Property Management now does the maintenance cleanup every spring pro bono. IVCBA is responsible for the sculptures.

The Incline Village Main Street design team, led by Linda Offerdahl, Christine Karnofsky, and Steve Porten, coordinated public input for the initial sketch for the improvements.

Incline Village locals Dale Smith of Smith Design Group and Larry Wodarski of IPM also helped with design.

Incline Village contractor, F.W. Carson Co., who placed the bronze sculptures in 2012, will conduct the improvement work.

Multiple agencies and companies have committed in-kind donations, according to IVCBA, including F.W. Carsn Co.’s donation of labor to place the boulders, which Realberry (owner of the Cal Neva) donated. Realberry’s contractors, SMC and SNC, are donating the transportation of the boulders. NDOT is donating traffic control for the project.

IVCBA says private donations have been a key funding source through the Incline Tahoe Foundation and that it is still seeking $30,000 for the project.