City to examine year-round uses at Bijou Golf Course

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - In its recently approved strategic plan, the City of South Lake Tahoe listed many priorities and goals that will provide direction for City Council and staff for the next five years.

One of those priorities is for recreation and equitable access: Elevate the recreation experience provided by the City to attract visitors and residents. Promote equitable access to recreation to underserved communities. Leverage city recreation assets and the 56-acre development to provide outdoor and organized recreation activities. Use recreation as an economic development tool to attract outdoor based companies and businesses, sporting and outdoor events, and conventions and trade shows to become the "Outdoor Capitol of the World."

The City will create a recreation master plan to meet that priority, one that will outline how the quality and quantity of parks and recreational opportunities. Action items on the priority include prioritizing the construction of parks, recreation facilities and trails to support and maximize the highest community benefit that provides access for all.

One of those action items was a hot topic of debate this week on social media after a resident stated the City will be removing the city-owned Bijou Golf Course. They were referring to item 2.1 on the plan.

Here are the two items on the strategic plan 2.1 that led to the speculation and creation of Change.org petition to keep the golf course. There are almost 100 other action items for many priorities and goals on that plan:

- Update the Master Plan for Bijou Park and evaluate the option to include the Master Plan as part of the scope of work for the Bijou/Al Tahoe Area Plan update.
- Explore Alternative uses for Bijou Golf Course to reach the highest community and environmental benefit to provide access for all.

Due to COVID-19 the golf course has been closed since it cannot operate safely during a pandemic. There is no running water and the only restroom facilities are portable ones. It will remain closed until health guidelines change. Since it closed last summer, City Manager Joe Irvin said he has received only two phone calls about the closure.

When the City looks at the Bijou Park Master Plan this fall during budget discussions, the possibility of additional uses for the scenic stretch of land in the middle of South Lake Tahoe will be explored.

At this time there are no plans for changes to the golf course but the dialog is opening for opportunities to enhance, the modernization of facilities, changing of the layout, as well as additional and year-round recreational uses.

The City pays an annual fee to rent the space for the golf course's parking lot at this time. A reconfiguration of the holes could be evaluated with an entrance from the city-owned Bijou Park. At that location there is parking and other needed facilities, thus eliminating the annual cost of renting the parcel.

Other ideas being brought to the table may be restoring the meadow and having interpretive trails, boardwalks around the meadow and seating areas, said Irvin. The golf course hasn't altered much from the natural state.

Keeping the golf course and adding outdoor concerts, special events, winter cross-country skiing, and snow shoeing will also be part of the discussion in the master plan.

The planning meetings will be public ones and input will be sought for not only the golf course, but the whole Bijou/Al Tahoe area plan.