Lake Arlington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Arlington |
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Aerial shot of Lake Arlington
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 Lake Arlington
Location in Illinois
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| Location | Arlington Heights, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 42°06′53″N 87°57′33″W / 42.11472°N 87.95917°W |
| Type | man-made lake, detention lake |
| Basin countries | United States of America |
| Surface area | 50-acre (20 ha) |
Lake Arlington is a special lake in Arlington Heights, Illinois, a suburb near Chicago. It's not a natural lake; people built it! This man-made lake is about 50 acres (20 hectares) big. It's also a "detention lake," which means it helps control water during heavy rains. The lake is usually about 5 to 7 feet deep.
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The Story of Lake Arlington
In the early 1980s, the land where Lake Arlington now sits was bought from local farmers. The Village of Arlington Heights purchased it to create a large basin. This basin would help collect stormwater from McDonald Creek.
Building the lake began in 1985. The whole project cost about $9 million. This big effort created the 50-acre lake we see today.
From Lake to Park
In 1990, the Arlington Heights Park District decided to turn the land around the lake into a park. On September 22, 1990, the village officially gave the land to the park district.
The park district had exciting plans for the area. They wanted to add a parking lot, boat docks, and a fishing dock. They also planned a bike path, a playground, and a small building. This building would have a snack stand and restrooms. The park officially opened on June 6, 1992. All parts of the park project were finished by 1995.
What Can You Do at Lake Arlington?
Today, Lake Arlington is part of a large 93-acre park. There are many fun things to do there!
- You can use the exercise area to stay active.
- Kids can play at two different playgrounds.
- There's a fishing pier where you can try to catch fish.
- A 2.4-mile (3.9 km) path is perfect for walking or biking.
- You can have picnics in special picnic areas.
- Restrooms and a concession stand are available for visitors.
- There's also a boat dock.
Boating and Water Fun
If you love being on the water, Lake Arlington is a great place! You can store your own canoes, rowboats, kayaks, or sailboats at the boathouse. During summer and fall, you can even rent sailboats and paddle-boats. While there's a small sandy area by the lake, swimming and wading are not allowed for safety.
Wildlife at Lake Arlington
Lake Arlington isn't just a lake; it's also home to different types of nature. The park has wooded areas, tall-grass fields, and 11 acres (4.5 hectares) of wetlands. These different habitats mean you can see many native animals.
Birds You Might Spot
Many kinds of birds live at Lake Arlington or visit often. You might see:
- The great blue heron, a tall bird that fishes in the water.
- American herring gulls flying overhead.
- Fast-flying barn swallows.
- Families of Canada geese.
- Mallard ducks swimming calmly.
- Brightly colored red-winged blackbirds.
- Small sparrows.
- Friendly American robins.
- And sometimes, the beautiful common loon.
Other Animals and Fish
Besides birds, other animals live in the park's wooded and grassy areas. Keep an eye out for:
- Clever raccoons.
- Busy eastern gray squirrels.
- And cute eastern cottontail rabbits.
The lake itself is full of fish! If you go fishing, you might catch:
- Bass.
- Colorful bluegills.
- Whiskered catfish.
- Large carp.
- And gizzard shads.
