On Tuesday, the community gathered to celebrate a new accessibility ramp that was added to the Tahoe Meadows.

The project took $35,000 and six to seven years to complete.

Jesse Murray, the Senior Vice President for Energy Delivery at NV Energy, told us this was a dual partnership between NV Energy and the Tahoe Fund. He says their relationship goes back a very long time.

"The Tahoe Fund established themselves as a true leader in environmental advocacy and accessibility advocacy here in the Lake Tahoe Basin and around Northern Nevada," he said. "When the Tahoe Fund calls for assistance, that's usually very easy to pick up the phone and help them out because their projects are very valuable to the community."

The Tahoe Fund is a nonprofit that works on environmental improvement projects.

Amy Berry, the CEO of the Tahoe Fund, says they've been working on this project for so long, they're happy to see it finally finished.

"You stand out here today, and you stand on these ramps, and they kind of look very simple, but the amount of effort and work and money that it takes, and engineering and construction to make something like this happen, takes, unfortunately, a very long time around here. We've been working on this project for six or seven years."

Roberta Ross, a Northern Nevada resident, was the one who initially reached out to the Tahoe Fund to bring this idea to the organization.

"The whole idea came from a hike that I did from Donner Ski Ranch up the hill and saw a view of Tahoe, and it was a highly publicized hike, and I personally felt bad because those people that are less fortunate and can't walk so good, I thought it's too bad there's not some way we can easily get them up to a stunning view like this.'"

She says the idea came to her in 1993, and following her goals and aspirations led to this reality of the ADA-accessible ramp, and she's happy it's finished.

"My number one message is, you too can make a difference, and to say that without crying, the message is: you too can make a difference if you ask questions, go to people that you know have an idea, and get people to work. It takes a tribe, and we had a tribe," she said.

"Standing out here on this ramp is pretty emotional," said Berry. "I know people got teared up earlier. Standing up here on the ramp, it feels really great to know that people come together to help the community, and this is a great example of that."

She also says it took many donors and collaborations to create this ramp.

Murray says that people from all over northern Nevada come to the Tahoe Meadows to recreate throughout the year, and they really wanted the trail and views to be accessible to all.

"Really impressed with the ramp. It meets all of our ADA accessibility requirements, and now people of all different abilities can enjoy these wonderful boardwalks here at the Tahoe Meadows."

Berry also says the Tahoe Fund is always working on environmental projects, and right now, they're working on expanding the East Shore Trail as well.