Scott Valentine, left, tries to read a bike route sign in South Lake Tahoe. At right is signage in Mammoth. Photos/Provided

By Kathryn Reed

Signs don’t do much good if no one can read them, and recreation amenities don’t do much good without staff to manage and maintain them. Those were two of the overriding messages delivered this month by the South Lake Tahoe Parks and Recreation Commission to the City Council.

Commissioner Scott Valentine, who is about 6-feet-tall, showed a picture of himself standing on his bike pedals, arm outstretched trying to read the tiny print on a mounted trail sign in the city.

“It’s 8-point font on an 8 x 10-inch tin,” he told the council. “I’m not sure how many people can read a sign that is 10 feet off the ground.”

The commission acts as an advisory body to council about all things recreation. Signage, connectivity and staffing were the three points stressed during this annual report.

“Clear and consistent signage will improve visitor enjoyment and enhance traffic flow and resolve safety issues,” the report states.

Valentine, who is chairman of the commission, suggested adding QR codes to signs so people with smart phones could get an automatic link to information.

The commission recommended better signage at:

·      Tahoe Keys Boulevard-Eloise Avenue

·      Springwood trailhead

·      Viking Road trailhead

·      Al Tahoe Boulevard-Pioneer Trail

·      Tahoe Keys Boulevard-Venice Drive.

In terms of trails that will help get people around the area better, Valentine said the most important one is the Greenway. While ultimately it will go from Meyers to Stateline, it is being built incrementally from the center outward. The California Tahoe Conservancy is the lead on this project.

In 2015, 0.42 miles of the Greenway was built between Herbert Avenue and Glenwood Way. Future sections include going from Herbert to Ski Run Boulevard, and then from Ski Run to Van Sickle. When those are completed the trail will be 3.86 miles long.

A few of the improvements the commission would like in the near future include:

·       Connecting the old Alta Mira building to Ski Run Boulevard;

·       Continuing the trail at Viking Way-Lake Tahoe Boulevard to the Y;

·       Creating a spur from the trail behind Fitness Evolution-Scusa to Sierra Boulevard.

“We can’t recommend any of these additional projects without first addressing our staffing needs,” Valentine said.

He said the ongoing maintenance is an issue. People are needed to maintain these trails.

The council did not discuss anything that Valentine presented that day.