Lake Cunningham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Cunningham |
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 Lake Cunningham
Location in California
Lake Cunningham
Location in the United States
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| Location | East San Jose, California |
| Coordinates | 37°20′12″N 121°48′30″W / 37.336615°N 121.808317°W |
| Type | Retention basin |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Water volume | 590 acre-feet (730,000 m3) |
Lake Cunningham is a man-made lake located in Lake Cunningham Park in East San Jose, California. It's an important spot near the Eastridge Mall and the Eastridge Transit Center. You can find it along Capitol Expressway, right next to Reid–Hillview Airport. The park is also home to the Lake Cunningham Skate Park and the Raging Waters theme park.
This lake was created to help control floods. It is not a natural lake or a geological feature.
History of the Area
The area where Lake Cunningham now sits was once a large wetland. These wetlands were called "lagunas" by early settlers. This specific area was known as Laguna Socayre (or Secayre) between 1769 and 1850. It was part of a big land grant called Rancho Yerba Buena or Rancho Socayre, given in 1833. Laguna Socayre was much larger than Lake Cunningham Park is today.
How the Lake Manages Water
Over time, many buildings and roads were built in the hills around the lake. This is called urbanization. Before, rainwater from storms would naturally soak into the ground. Now, with all the development, this stormwater is collected. It flows into pipes under the streets. These pipes then carry the water to Thompson Creek and into Lake Cunningham. This change means that during winter storms, much more water flows into the lake quickly.
Naming the Lake
The lake and the park are named after James Farnham Cunningham. He owned the land before the city bought it. The city acquired the land mainly to help control floods in the area.
Images for kids
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A view of Lake Cunningham.
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Another angle of the lake.
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The lake on a sunny day.
