Not so many years ago, Lake Elsinore was beset with infighting that would do Murrieta proud. These days, if things haven't completely turned around for the once-maligned city, they sure are looking a lot brighter.

Maybe maligned is a bit strong, but when you mentioned the goings-on, or lack thereof, in the city, there always seemed to be the unspoken "Well, it is Lake Elsinore" hanging over the conversation like a storm that blew out of the Santa Anas.

At least the animosity between the politicos pretty much seems to have subsided to a point where the city can conduct business with an eye toward solving problems.

This is not to say that Lake Elsinore suddenly has transformed itself into a problem-free zone, but the palpable change in how the city is viewed by officials of other municipalities and observers of things particular to Southwest County is a testament to this latest chapter in its life.

Consider commercial development.

Two new shopping centers featuring large sales-tax generators such as Target, Costco, Home Depot and Lowe's, and new car dealers are among the spurt of new businesses generating much-needed revenue.

Combine that with the move to resuscitate its namesake centerpiece, the lake, and things fiscal are really looking up.

The caveat, of course, is that the lake is not so large as to be able to accommodate the crush of development that can be tempting to a city that is getting back its legs. Still, properly handled, it could become a recreational, residential, commercial and environmentally satisfying jewel in Southwest County.

It's downtown largely has escaped the too-often overwhelming urge to knock down any structure that has more than a couple of years' dust on its sills in favor of sterile buildings that create one more anonymous collection of "modern architecture."

The welcoming feel of a renovated commercial center that combines residential and business applications with a prosperous, small-town ambiance is a seductive draw that serves communities well.

As for activities apart from the lake, the city is living up to, and expanding on, its new motto: Dream Extreme.

In addition to activities such as skydiving, motorcross and hang gliding, the Lake Elsinore Grand Prix, a race featured in Steve McQueen's movie "On Any Sunday," celebrated the 10th anniversary of its revival last year and was joined by the inaugural Air Nautique Wake Games sponsored by ESPN.

Other events, such as the Main Street car cruises and the national anthem tryouts at The Diamond, offer a diversion for folks who see the inherent craziness of jumping out of airplanes and flying through the air on motorcycles.

And, just this week, the city reached an agreement with its professional baseball team, the Storm, to take over The Diamond, the stadium that has proved a sinkhole for Lake Elsinore's finances. That agreement just might provide the city with long-sought fiscal relief.

As for infrastructure, Lake Elsinore's purse has grown sufficiently full to allow a large increase in spending on roads in addition to the lake, a move that will be welcomed by its residents and those moving into the developments growing about the city.

Additionally, officials have turned the planned civic center into a community activity with the creation of a design contest that will include residents as members of the panel that will select the plan.

Problems remain, but the city is working on them. It is getting tougher on graffiti and the county is helping with fighting its long-standing gang problem. And while the school system, a vital component of any thriving area, still is troublesome, the new superintendent generally is receiving high marks.

There will be disagreements among the constituencies that comprise the city as to how best to proceed, but the bottom line is that airing the ideas and then getting behind those chosen will benefit everyone.

In dreaming extreme, Lake Elsinore is learning to cooperate extreme.

Bravo.

Phil Strickland is a Temecula resident and regular columnist for The Californian. E-mail: philipestrickland@yahoo.com.