Public Invited to Provide Feedback on Improvements to Van Sickle Bi-State Park

Options Include Safety and Equitable Access Improvements for Park Entrance, Trails, and Facilities

Corrected November 6, 2025

South Lake Tahoe, Calif.—The California Tahoe Conservancy is seeking public input on proposed improvements on the California side of Van Sickle Bi-State Park. Opportunities to participate include virtual and in-person meetings later this month and an online survey.

The Conservancy and Nevada State Parks co-manage the 725-acre Van Sickle Bi-State Park, which offers hiking trails, picnic areas, and the historic Van Sickle ranch and cabins. Building on a 2019 Vision Plan for the park, the Conservancy is exploring options to improve the park entrance, trails, and facilities.

The proposed Van Sickle Bi-State Park Safety and Equitable Access Improvement Project includes:

• The Van Sickle Shared-Use Trail, approximately 0.4 miles of paved shared-use trail that will meet the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• A new entrance plaza.
• Day-use picnic areas overlooking a meadow and at the historic Van Sickle Barn.
• Interpretive and wayfinding signs.
• Best Management Practices (BMPs) for snow storage and to capture storm water runoff, which can carry sediment and other pollutants that harm water quality.

The Conservancy also proposes to build approximately 0.35 miles of the Dennis T. Machida Memorial Greenway (Van Sickle Connector), which will connect from Chonokis Road to the Van Sickle Shared-Use Trail, and which will also meet ADA accessibility requirements.

The Conservancy invites the public to attend either of two public meetings:

• Monday, November 17 | Noon – 1:30pm | Virtual
  Join via Zoom on November 17: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89785823153
• Thursday, November 20 | 5:00pm – 7:00pm | Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC)
  Meet in the LTCC Board Room (L104), located in the Roberta Mason Library building.

Members of the public are also able to provide feedback via an online survey, which will be available on the Conservancy website at tahoe.ca.gov/van-sickle-improvements. The survey will be available in both English and Spanish.

Media Resources:

• Photo of Van Sickle Bi-State Park entrance rock
• Overview map of proposed improvements
• Map of core area of proposed improvements

Media Contact: Chris Carney, Communications Director, chris.carney@tahoe.ca.gov, 530-543-6057 

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The California Tahoe Conservancy is a state agency, established in 1984, with a mission to lead California’s efforts to restore and enhance the extraordinary natural and recreational resources of the Lake Tahoe Basin. Learn more at tahoe.ca.gov.