SLT Parks & Recreation Commission opposes events on local fields

With the March 6 South Lake Tahoe City Council meeting set to address the annual music festival SnowGlobe, the Parks & Recreation Commission held a special meeting to decide what their stance would be on the festival being held on the Community Playfields.

The new playfields have never had a soccer or football game played on them, but they are in need of a lot of repair after SnowGlobe unpacked and left after their Dec. 29-31 event.

Commissioners reminded the public that they weren't there to approve or disapprove of SnowGlobe, but there were there to look at the effect of special events on fields.

"We are stewards of the fields," said the Commission.

SnowGlobe promoter Chad Donnelly put up a $250,000 bond and promised the fields would be replaced or repaired if needed after the show. With not much snow this year, the 20,000 festival goers dancing on the new turf created a muddy mess. Special field protection coverage was put on the field where the stages, tents and heavy equipment were placed, and those ares of the turf are fine.

It could take the whole $250,000 to fix the damage.

The commission said their objective is to provide recreation to the community and protect what City assets are used for recreation. The appointed members said there is no guarantee the new community play fields will be ready for sports by June's annual Come Up For Air soccer tournament, or any other spring and early summer sports. With a grading period that cannot start before May 1 without approval from Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA), and a six-to-eight week period needed for sod to take root, it could possibly be July 1 before the playfields could be used.

Voters approved Measure S to increase taxes for recreational uses like the fields and bike trails. They aren't just looking at SnowGlobe but at all possible requests for the fields in the future. "Whatever it is, the first use must be considered - play," said the commissioners.

"We'd rather have Mother Nature do harm than an event, at least that is easier to explain to the public," they added.

Suggestions from the citizens who attended the meeting included the City getting a venue meant for special events such as SnowGlobe, a place where parks wouldn't be compromised. Almost two dozen people were there to participate.

Parks & Recreation will make a presentation to the City Council on March 6, telling them that special events should not be held on City fields meant for recreation, no matter what the event.