Dennis T. Machida Memorial Greenway

The Dennis T. Machida Memorial Greenway provides the backbone of the shared-use trail network in the south shore. Previously known as the South Tahoe Greenway Shared Use Trail, the 3.86-mile trail links south shore neighborhoods to each other and to Lake Tahoe Community College.

Overview

As envisioned, the Dennis T. Machida Memorial Greenway may one day extend from Meyers to Van Sickle Bi-State Park in South Lake Tahoe. Project approval occurred in 2011 and 2016 for the 3.86 miles of the trail from South Lake Tahoe’s Sierra Tract neighborhood east to Van Sickle. Some sections are complete, and partners are planning for the remaining phases.

Phases 1A, 1B, and 2 – Complete

Extending from the Sierra Tract neighborhood east to Herbert Avenue, these phases are complete and open to the public. The Conservancy led construction of Phase 1a. El Dorado County led construction for Phases 1b and 2, in a partnership that included the Conservancy, Lake Tahoe Community College, Tahoe Regional Planning Agency, CalTrans, Forest Service – Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, and the City of South lake Tahoe.

Phase 1C – Planning

The City of South Lake Tahoe is planning Phase 1C, which will extend the Greenway from Herbert Avenue to Ski Run Boulevard. Visit the EIP Tracker to learn more about Greenway Phase 1C.

Phase 3 – Planning

The Conservancy is planning Phase 3, which will extend the Greenway from Ski Run Boulevard to Chonokis Road. Visit the EIP Tracker to learn more about Greenway Phase 3.

Van Sickle Greenway Connector – Planning

The Conservancy expects to construct this section, which will extend the Greenway from Chonokis Road to the historic barn in Van Sickle Bi-State Park, in 2028-2029.

Greenway – Upper Truckee River Bridge at Johnson Meadow

El Dorado County plans to construct an extension of the Greenway from the Sierra Tract neighborhood west across Johnson Meadow and the Upper Truckee River to Winnemucca Avenue near Barton Memorial Hospital. Visit the EIP tracker to learn more about the bridge project.

Future Phases

Future projects could extend the Greenway south to Meyers:

Recreation

Recreation and Public Access Program

Signature Recreation Projects
Commons Beach
Dennis T. Machida Memorial Greenway
Lakeview Commons
Lake Tahoe Water Trail
Tahoe Pines (Meyers)
Van Sickle Bi-State Park

Story Map – Dennis T. Machida Memorial Greenway

Interactive maps, graphics, and videos exploring how the Greenway is already connecting the community in South Lake Tahoe, and how future extensions can complete the vision of the Conservancy's first executive director.

View the Story Map

En español

Who was Dennis T. Machida?

Dennis T. Machida was a champion for protecting and improving natural and recreational resources at Lake Tahoe. He was instrumental in establishing the California Tahoe Conservancy and other state conservancies. Dennis was an innovator and a groundbreaking Asian American leader in environmental conservation. He served as the California Tahoe Conservancy’s first Executive Director from 1985 until his untimely death in 2005.

Dennis left a remarkable legacy at Tahoe. Under his leadership, the Conservancy acquired thousands of properties for environmental protection and public access. He secured funding for hundreds of enduring projects, of which the Dennis T. Machida Memorial Greenway is just one example.