New Park Planned For Tahoe Area

A fire that burned 670 acres of Lake Tahoe Basin forest isn´t slowing plans for the first Nevada-California state park. The bi-state park would be located on both sides of the Heavenly Valley ski resort gondola line, where the July Fourth holiday fire started. While the park, located on land once owned by rancher Jack Van Sickle, may not open for several years, public workshops on the plan are expected late this year or in early 2003. Van Sickle donated 542 acres to Nevada 13 years ago, and the California Tahoe Conservancy closed escrow in May on 155 adjacent acres.