Tahoe Vista playground project may break ground this summer

KINGS BEACH, Calif. — On the sun-drenched patio of the North Tahoe Event Center, local talent and the North Tahoe Public Utility District gathered Wednesday to bring locals the inaugural Tahoe Art and Music Festival.

Though only in its first year, “Tahoe Fest,” as it was referred to throughout the evening, hopes to be a staple of summer entertainment on the North Shore.

“Everyone knows about SnowFest, but where's the big summer celebration?” asked Chris Talbot, Tahoe Fest's featured photographer whose photos have been on display in the event center all summer. “Tahoe Fest is an art and music festival for summer that's all about Tahoe, and we're hoping to do it every year.”

Also on hand to entertain the crowd was Lake Tahoe singer-songwriter Darin Talbot and Incline Village resident McAvoy Lane, better known as the ghost of Mark Twain.

Funding a playground

While the inaugural Tahoe Fest was art and music themed, it was also meant to raise funds for NTPUD's Friends of the Park Fund, established to create funding for various North Tahoe projects.

One of those projects, estimated at $140,000, is for a new playground equipment at the North Tahoe Regional Park in Tahoe Vista, the focus of Wednesday's fundraiser.

More than a year ago, the group had to remove equipment such as the toddler swing set area and the five-to-12 year old play area from the park because of compliance issues with Consumer Product Safety Codes.

The new plan would include a tri-level play tower, two sets of swings and spring riders.

Fundraising began in March, with $25,000 of initial funding provided by the utility district

Since, an additional $8,000 has been raised between donations from the Tahoe City Rotary Club and the pancake breakfast held during SnowFest, said Kathy Long, Parks and Facilities manager for North Tahoe Public Utility District.

“It means a lot to me to be a part of this,” said Chris Talbot, a 33-year Tahoe local. “There are only a few swings between Kings Beach and Tahoe City, and it would be great for the kids to have this new equipment.”

Tahoe Fest raised $1,353 from a raffle and bar sales toward the Friends of the Park Fund.

And the fund is not without generous donators.

Sierra Summit Landscaping out of Reno has donated 15 pallets of paving bricks to the utility district.

“That should be enough to repave all of the pathways around the park,” Long said. “But we're going to need the help of our staff, a lot of volunteers and a contractor to do all of the prep work and install the pathways.”

Starting this summer

Even without the estimated $140,000 needed to complete the park renovation, Long said NTPUD hopes to complete the pathway and as much of the swing set replacement as it can afford by the end of grading season this summer.

In the meantime, the district will begin seeking bids for the new playground equipment.

“We need to start this project now,” Long said.

Many parents attending the event agreed.

“We usually visit a playground at least twice a week with four to six other families,” said Valli Murnane, a Tahoe City mother. “The park at Tahoe Vista is great because it's up off the main tourist areas and more locals go there.”