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Community splits over proposal to replace Tahoe City dog park with Scottie Lapp skate park
Summary
The Scottie Lapp Foundation presented plans for a 10,000‑sq‑ft concrete skate park at the current dog‑park site in Tahoe City; foundation officials emphasized nearly 80% of a ~$750,000 fundraising goal has been raised, while neighbors urged alternative locations and raised noise, safety and environmental concerns.
The Tahoe City Public Utility District board heard a presentation Feb. 21 from the Scottie Lapp Foundation proposing a permanent, approximately 10,000‑square‑foot concrete skate park at the site now used as the community dog park. "We spend 90% of our personal time doing fundraising from the community to do these projects," said a foundation representative, noting the group had already raised more than 80% of an estimated $750,000 budget.
Foundation representatives told the board the park would be quieter than previous wood and metal pop‑up ramps because it would be poured concrete and integrated into existing recreational uses adjacent to the elementary school, parking and the golf course. Dave Grogan, director of parks and recreation, framed the district’s role: staff would negotiate property rights with the school district, and, if the foundation satisfactorily completed design, permitting and construction under a development agreement, TCPUD would assume ownership and operations of the facility.
Public comment was sharply divided. Supporters argued the town lacks dedicated skateboarding facilities for youth and praised the foundation’s fundraising and volunteer work. "We have an opportunity to do that," said a longtime resident who backed the project, adding that similar parks have worked in other mountain communities. Opponents said the proposed location would remove a heavily used community dog park, reduce nearby homeowners’ quality of life and pose noise and safety issues because bars and a liquor store abut the site. One resident warned of groundwater and stormwater risk and said a professional geologist had raised environmental concerns.
Board members pressed staff on liability, noise and environmental review. Legal counsel and staff said state law provides some design immunities for municipalities operating skate parks, but those protections are not absolute; staff also said Placer County would act as the lead agency for the minor‑use permit and environmental review, and that a noise study and other special studies were expected as part of permit review. The board did not take final action on the site but directed staff to continue negotiations and to return with the development agreement and property‑rights documents for formal approval, and scheduled related discussion in closed session on property negotiations.
