Regan Beach evolving into contemporary park

Regan Beach plans call for making it modern and accessible to all abilities. Rendering/Design Workshop

By Kathryn Reed

Putting more beach back into Regan Beach is a goal of many who use this South Lake Tahoe recreation area.

Parks and Recreation Commissioner Steve Noll on Oct. 6 went over the latest composite based on feedback at community meetings and through a survey the city conducted. The top amenities or changes people want include:

·       Non-motorized boat launch

·       Expanded beach

·       Jetty

·       Adventure play area

·       Concession-restrooms

·       Picnic area

·       Dog beach access

·       Multi-use lawn.

“I think we need more beach. People enjoy the water’s edge,” John Cefalu said. He was one of several of the nearly two dozen people at Tuesday’s meeting who voiced a desire for even more beach beyond what the Design Workshop renderings showed.

To accomplish this some of the grass area may have to go away. Already more than 5,000-square-feet of grass may be eliminated.

Other likely changes include eliminating the sand volleyball area, getting rid of the kids swing set and creating something more contemporary called an adventure play area, going from two picnic tables to a potential of 20, upgrading concession stand and bathroom, removing one parking space, adding about 130 linear feet of beach, and adding about 440 linear feet of seating.

One of the biggest changes will be the removal of the 1940’s era bulkhead.

A huge unknown, though, is what was used 70-plus years ago as fill for the beach. Like the Tahoe Keys, this area is manmade. The city will bore into the soil to get samples before any work is done. This will also be necessary before permits are obtained. Depending on what is found, it’s possible the fill may have to all be trucked out of the basin and uncontaminated dirt brought to the site.

Back in the day people buried all sorts of things with complete disregard for the environment. The city has found tanks from the old Globin resort while doing work in this area of town. Multiple gasoline storage tanks – including two full ones – were discovered up the road a couple years ago during work on Harrison Avenue.

Jim Marino, assistant public works director, told Lake Tahoe News that whatever the fill is composed it should not prevent the project from going forward.

Overflow parking into the neighborhood from events is a concern. Lauren Thomaselli, parks manager, said it’s possible to include in rental agreements the need to provide adequate parking, even if that means shuttling people to the venue.

The City Council will make the ultimate decision on what the design will be. A date has not been set for when that will occur. Design Workshop will make final conceptual designs as well as put an estimated price on the work before the electeds discuss any project.