What's the deal with Tahoe's Linear Park

For over nine months, most of the lights at Linear Park have been left in the dark as a result of vandalism. While the city has promised new lights for the 8-foot-wide trail that runs along U.S. Highway 50 from Ski Run Marina to the Pioneer Trail intersection, business owners who were initially excited about the project are wondering when repairs will be made.

"I read in the newspaper the cost on the lights," said Kevin Rambhai, owner of Tahoe Hacienda Motel. "It's ridiculous. We could have put lights on the whole street for what they cost. My guests would walk all the way to the marina and back. Now everything is dark when they get off of the motel property, and they don't walk."

Gary Sweet, operations manager for the Tahoe Chalet Inn doesn't think people are aware of the park.

"As far as impact, I don't think it has any impact. What is impacting is people don't know it's there," he said.

The project was put together by coordinating efforts between the city, California Tahoe Conservancy and the adjacent Tahoe Meadows Homeowners Association.

"It was something that meant a great deal to us and we worked with all parties," said Ray Lacey, program coordinator for the Conservancy.

Design and construction of the park was paid with a $748,000 grant from the Conservancy, Lacey said. The Conservancy also spent $115,000 in land acquisition, while the city paid for other land acquisition.

While the Conservancy put up funding for the project, it has withheld $74,800 from the grant it gave the city because the lights were never replaced, Lacey said.

Only the light fixtures will be replaced, said City Planner Gary Marchio. The base of the lights will remain.

Brad Vidro, city engineer, has some prototype lights that should be more resistant to damage, he said. But an actual installation date has yet to be set.

When the lights are replaced, the Conservancy will do an analysis of the park to determine if the city has met Conservancy requirements in all aspects of the project. If it meets the requirements, the Conservancy will reimburse it for the $74,800, Lacey said.

The park was designed to act as a linking path in the Conservancy's ongoing efforts to create a network of bicycle trails throughout the city.

The condition of the vegetation, which is a responsibility of the city, has also caused some to complain.

"When it went in, it was very attractive," Sweet said. "And right now you can't even tell it is there because both sides are overgrown. "It was just put in and forgotten about."

The vegetation put in the park is native, Lacey said. It is the same vegetation that was planted on Al Tahoe Boulevard between College Avenue and Pioneer Trail 10 years ago. But, according to Lacey, the weeds can be very aggressive in the early years. Though he admits: "It got a little out of control this spring."