50plus years of bliss!

In the Fall of 1963, we purchased a "by owner" home on Upper Penn Lake. What sold us, mainly, was the awesome Oak tree in the back yard. Yes, the lake was swell, and the park behind our home was ideal for enjoying the various "jungle gym" equipment the City provided. And, in the winter, the staffed warming house was well used by the neighborhood kids. The hill on our lot was steeper than the park hill, so hordes of kids went sliding down it during the snowy months.

There wasn't much vegetation around the lake, so we had a great, unobstructed view. The lake was blue, too; not the brownish color it is now. That change happened when Best Buy built on 79th and Penn, and the runoff caused the deterioration.

Nevertheless, it has been a beautiful place to live, with all the creatures several people have mentioned, plus some NOT mentioned; raccoons, rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, and even a ground hog, who took up residence under our porch, and which we tried to lure into a huge metal cage we purchased from one of Bud Grants annual garage sales. It ignored all enticements, and left in it's own good time.

We hope Bloomington will continue to keep caring and maintaining this natural beauty of parks and ponds.