Upgrades to Nevada Beach make it ADA compliant
By Kathryn Reed
STATELINE — Making Nevada Beach accessible to people with disabilities and improving water quality are the goals of the $1.2 million project under way at the popular beach-day use-campground just east of the Stateline casinos.
With work having begun last summer, crews expect to wrap things up before Fourth of July. This holiday is the time when the beach reaches maximum capacity because the views of the fireworks shot off over the lake are some of the best.
Restrooms at Nevada Beach are being built to ADA specs. Photos/Kathryn Reed
This winter workers are finishing the two restrooms, with landscaping work to begin once the snow melts and the grading season opens.
The two old restrooms date to the 1940s or ’50s, according to U.S. Forest Service officials. They will be demolished. One of the facilities that was built in the 1970s will remain in use, however it is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The Forest Service, which has owned the land since 1942, is using money from its general budget as well as funds from the Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act for the upgrades.
Besides replacing the structures that have outlived their usefulness, water and electrical lines are being replaced to meet health and safety codes.
“The other thing related to accessibility is an accessible path around the entire parking lot,” USFS spokeswoman Cheva Heck said. “As we get money, we go to our facilities and address accessibility because we want and need to bring them up to that level.”
She said it’s all part of the Forest Service’s goal “to serve all of the public.”
A boardwalk leading to the lake has been laid. This allows people in wheelchairs to use picnic areas close to the shore.
Part of the water quality portion of the project involved moving one campsite to ground that is not sensitive. Burke Creek runs through Rabe Meadow, which leads to Lake Tahoe, so lots of marshy areas exist much of the year in the area. None of the improvements are designed affect the creek.
In the day use area, catch basins are being installed to trap water to have it filtered before it reaches Lake Tahoe.
$1.2M seems an order of magnitude too high.
Local Union work.
Are composting toilets still part of the plan? That’s the silliest thing I ever heard! The sewer lines are all right there, but they talked about putting in the extremely expensive, maintenance intensive, feel good “green” option. It makes sense if you have a cabin out in the middle of nowhere, but in the middle of the city it’s a total waste of money and resources.
It take years of study with that group nutso’s..trpa to hook up a sewer line…too bad ,cause a real burger stand with water hook ups be worth a fortune down there.
I really Like the pictures of the walk ways for the handicapped,I’ve seen so many struggle with wheelchairs,the sand with crutches,NOW ALL THE REGULAR PEOPLE WITH GOOD HEALTH HOG THE PATH.
It’s better than it use to be…sure expensive.
$1.2 million for two seperate new ADA compliant restrooms, electrical upgrades, landscaping, campsite rlocation and a wheelchair accessable boardwalk sounds like a bargain compared to what’s planned for this summer at the El Dorado Beach boatramp.
According to the Feb. 16-28 issue of the Tahoe Business Monitor, the old, decrepit restrooms housed in a single building there will be replaced and an office for boat inspections and fee collections will be housed in the new building as well all for the bargain price of $520,000!!!!
Even though this is being funded entirely by a grant from the California Dept. of Boating and Waterways, does anyone else think that this is waaay too expensive for 2 restrooms and a boat inspection office? No boat decontaminations will take place there as it’s too close to the lake.
With both construction bids and home prices at historic lows, this seems waaay beyond the pail. You can buy a decent waterfront home in the Keys for that kind of $. Hell–you’d get your 2 bathrooms and an office with a bonus kitchen, two or 3 bedrooms, deck, garage and boat dock thrown in. WTF?