By Kathryn Reed

“A facility like this brings people together.”

Standing at the top of Lakeview Commons, looking down on the stage where moments before the site had been officially dedicated, Ray Lacey was a bit melancholy. As a lifelong resident of South Lake Tahoe, the deputy director of the California Tahoe Conservancy is prideful of what his employer and his town have accomplished.

More than 150 people are on hand for the June 20 dedication of Lakeview Commons. Photos/Kathryn Reed

“It’s so personally rewarding to see the South Shore fulfilling its potential,” Lacey told Lake Tahoe News.

On June 20, the $6 million project was introduced to the public in an unveiling of sorts with speeches by political figures and a party afterward.

It was the CTC that paid for the project.

Already it is a gathering place as can be seen by the number of people using it on a daily basis. Even Soroptimist International South Lake Tahoe had its meeting at Lakeview earlier that day.

Many of those who were at the August 2010 groundbreaking returned to see their dream go from idea to a sketch to a functioning park on the edge of Lake Tahoe.

One of those people was Manuela King. As vice president of RHAA – the landscape architects for the project – she was all smiles as she listened to accolades bestowed upon her.

After the ceremony she told Lake Tahoe News she is thrilled with the end result. (So happy is she to work in Tahoe, the Bay Area firm just opened an office in Meyers.)

Her only regret is phase two has not been built.

Non-motorized boats are for rent.

Jim Marino, who has shepherded this project through for the city as capital improvement manager, echoed King’s sentiments.

“I want to do phase 2. The plans are done. We just need to seek funding,” Marino said. The cost is $3 million.

That phase would pick up on the north end of the El Dorado Beach site and continue to the Alta Mira Building. A cantilevered walkway is planned to extend over the water.

Marino reflected on the shaky start the project had with Clark and Sullivan challenging the bid and then ultimately being awarded the project.

In the end, it was only praise for project manager Doris Kelly.

“She was phenomenal on the job,” Marino said.

Hundreds of people were associated with the project – many of them were recognized at Wednesday’s celebration.

Former Mayor Kathay Lovell tells the history of the project while state Sen. Ted Gaines, state Natural Resources Secretary John Laird and CTC Executive Director Patrick Wright listen.

After all the speeches, the city welcomed all to lunch at Lakeview Café – the name of the eatery at Lakeview Commons. Music and paddleboarding filled out the afternoon and evening.

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Former South Lake Tahoe Mayor Kathay Lovell speaks June 20 at the dedication of Lakeview Commons: