Wilde Lake, Columbia, Maryland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wilde Lake |
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 Wilde Lake
Location in Maryland
Wilde Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Wilde Lake Columbia |
| Coordinates | 39°13′32″N 76°51′59″W / 39.22556°N 76.86639°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Catchment area | 1,140 acres (460 ha) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Built | 1966 |
| Surface area | 22 acres (8.9 ha) |
| Water volume | 48,200,000 US gal (182,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 335 ft (102 m) |
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Wilde Lake
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Village
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| Country | United States |
| State | Maryland |
| City | Columbia |
| Established | 1967 |
| Named for | Frazier B. Wilde |
Wilde Lake is a special village in Columbia, Maryland. It was the very first part of Columbia to be built! The village opened on June 21, 1967. It is named after a human-made lake, also called Wilde Lake, which was created in 1966.
The lake and village got their name from Frazar B. Wilde. He was a chairman at a company called Connecticut General Life Insurance Company. This company helped fund the secret land purchases for Columbia. This led to the creation of The Howard Research and Development Corporation, which developed Columbia.
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About Wilde Lake (the Lake)
Wilde Lake is a human-made lake that collects rainwater from a large area of 1,140 acres (460 ha). It can hold a lot of water, up to 48,200,000 US gallons (182,000 m3).
A person named Mort Hoppenfeld designed the dam for the lake. This dam is 27 foot (8.2 m) tall and 200 foot (61 m) wide. It was built across a branch of the Patuxent River. The lake then filled the fields between some old stone buildings.
Wilde Lake Neighborhoods
The neighborhoods in Wilde Lake Village were built around a historic place called Oakland Manor. Some old buildings were removed for the new development. However, some stone buildings from the 1700s are still standing today.
The first manager of Columbia, John E. Slayton, moved into a historic home with his wife. They were the first residents of Columbia.
- Bryant Woods: This neighborhood is named after the poet William Cullen Bryant.
- Faulkner Ridge: This area is named after the writer William Faulkner.
- Running Brook: The streets here are named after poems by Robert Frost and stories from Aesop's Fables, like "The Birches."
Village Redevelopment
As Columbia grew, its developer wanted to make the existing areas more modern and useful. In 2008, a company called Kimco Realty Corporation suggested a big plan to rebuild the village center. This plan would have added many new apartments.
However, this plan was later stopped. In 2013, Kimco started a new project. They removed the old grocery store and planned to build 250 apartments and 30,000 square feet (2,800 m2) of office space. This project was designed to be very eco-friendly, using features like efficient lighting and sustainable building materials.
This redevelopment brought a new organic grocery store, David's Natural Market, to the village center. In 2015, another company, Wood Partners, took over the project. They built 230 apartments and named the area Alta Wilde Lake.
Community Services
The Wilde Lake Village Green is the center of the village. It has a small grocery store, different restaurants, and other shops.
The Wilde Lake Community Center is called Slayton House. It is named after John Slayton, who was the first manager of the Columbia Association.
The Wilde Lake Interfaith Center is also located in the village center. It is a place where different religions can come together.
Education in Wilde Lake
Wilde Lake High School is located in the Village of Wilde Lake. It was the first high school to open in Columbia in 1971. This school was special because it was one of the first to let students learn at their own speed using "learning activities packages."
The school building has three stories with skylights. It also has open hallways that look down onto a central hallway called "Main Street." The school is home to The Jim Rouse Theater, which hosts many performing arts shows for both the school and other groups in Columbia. The school is well known for its performing arts programs.
The original high school building was replaced in 1994 with a new one. The new school opened for the 1996–1997 school year.
Other schools in Wilde Lake Village include Bryant Woods and Running Brook elementary schools, and Wilde Lake Middle School.
In 2017, Wilde Lake Middle School became the first net zero school in Maryland. This means it produces as much energy as it uses! It has many solar panels and uses geothermal energy from the ground.
Recreation and Fun
There is a walking path around Wilde Lake that is 1.46 miles (2.35 km) long. It's a great place for a walk or a run! The lake itself is 22-acre (89,000 m2) big.
