Mountain Lake Park facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mountain Lake Park
Mountain Lake at Mountain Lake Park
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Type	Municipal (San Francisco)
Location	9th and Lake Streets, San Francisco
Area	14 acres (5.7 ha)
Created	1875
Status	Open all year

Mountain Lake Park is a 14-acre (5.7 ha) park in San Francisco. It's located in the Richmond District neighborhood. This park was designed around 1875 by an engineer named William Hammond Hall. He also designed the famous Golden Gate Park.

Park History

Early Explorers

In 1776, a Spanish explorer named Juan Bautista de Anza visited the lake. He stayed for two days during his second trip north. While there, he found the perfect spot for the Spanish presidio, which is like a military fort. A special plaque was placed in 1957 to remember his visit.

Building the Park

Later, in 1939, some changes happened to the park. Dirt from digging the MacArthur Tunnel was dumped near Mountain Lake. This was done to help build the Funston Avenue road to the Golden Gate Bridge. The dirt helped make the marshy land firmer, but it also made the lake smaller. The US Army also made sure that water from the new road would drain into Mountain Lake.

Mountain Lake

Mountain Lake is a 4-acre (1.6 ha) body of water. It's located east of State Route 1 (Park Presidio Boulevard). The lake sits at the very southern edge of the Presidio of San Francisco. It's special because it's one of the last natural lakes in San Francisco. It's also the only natural lake in the huge Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Lake Changes and Pollution

Over the years, the lake has changed. In 1897, water from the lake was used to water the new golf course at the Presidio. This made the lake's water level drop from its original 30-foot (9.1 m) depth. When Park Presidio Boulevard was built, it went right over the western side of the lake, making it even smaller.

Because runoff from the Funston Avenue road went into the lake, some harmful things ended up there. This included pesticides from the golf course and lead from cars that used leaded gasoline. The lake also became a place where people would sometimes dump unwanted pets. Animals like crawdads, bass, goldfish, carp, bullfrogs, and turtles were found. Believe it or not, even an alligator was found and removed in 1996!

Waterfowl at Mountain Lake (2012)

Lake Wildlife

Many different kinds of birds can be seen around the lake. You might spot California seagulls and ducks. On the eastern and southern sides of the lake, people have planted native plants. These are plants that naturally grow in the area. The water under Mountain Lake also helps feed Lobos Creek.

The Golden Gator

In October 1996, a 3 feet 2 inches (0.97 m) long alligator was found in Mountain Lake! A zoo expert helped remove it. People nicknamed the alligator "Golden Gator" after a newspaper poll. It was first seen by a birdwatcher in August 1996. Rumors about an alligator had been going around the neighborhood for weeks. People thought someone had dumped it there.

The search for the alligator became a friendly competition between San Francisco's two main newspapers. The Chronicle tried to catch it with park and zoo officials. But professional alligator hunters said their tools weren't right. One hunter, Jimmie Long, even flew in to help. The Examiner newspaper sent its own team to try and catch the alligator humanely.

After a few days of trying, the alligator was finally caught. It was taken to the San Francisco Zoo for a short time. In December 1996, Golden Gator was flown to New Orleans. There, it was released into a large wildlife center.

Myrtle the Swan

Another famous animal at Mountain Lake was Myrtle, a special swan. She couldn't fly because of a procedure called "pinioning." Myrtle was well-known in the neighborhood for her funny habits. She would sometimes stop traffic when crossing Lake Street! She also liked to "borrow" snacks from a nearby store. Myrtle would visit people, watch tennis players, and even join picnics.

Zoo officials thought Myrtle had become very attached to people. Her last "human friend" was a local resident named Chuck Lantz. Every morning, Myrtle would loudly "whoop" at his back door until he walked her back to the park.

Myrtle lived at the park for many years, at least since 1985. In 1992, she was taken to the zoo to recover from a neck injury. Later, in 1997, she was again taken to the zoo because she was sick. She was treated for lead poisoning and a lung infection. While the lake was being cleaned to remove lead, Myrtle stayed at a temporary home on a ranch.

Park Amenities

Mountain Lake Park has lots of fun things to do! On the southern side, you'll find a playground and tennis courts. There's also a hiking trail that starts at Funston and Lake. It goes along the southern side of the lake and then into the Presidio. Another part of the trail goes around the wilder eastern and northern sides of the lake.

Fitness and Fun

The park also has one of San Francisco's oldest "Parcourses," which is a fitness trail. It has exercise stations all around the park. Many of these were updated in 2009. There's a small building known as the "card shack" near the 9th Avenue entrance. It has picnic tables and is a popular spot for birthday parties and neighborhood gatherings.

A group called the Friends of Mountain Lake Park organizes a "Party in the Park" every year. Everyone in the neighborhood is invited! The park also has two grassy meadows. The larger one is great for picnics, soccer, lacrosse practice, or just relaxing. You can even reserve most of the park's facilities if you get a permit.

Dog Park Area

At the eastern end of Mountain Lake Park, there's a special area for dogs. Owners can let their dogs run and play off-leash there. It's a popular spot for neighbors to gather.

The Friends of Mountain Lake Park also work with the Recreation and Park Department. They organize regular park cleanups and plantings. This helps keep the park beautiful for everyone to enjoy!

Images for kids

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  Mountain Lake at Mountain Lake Park