Penn Lake Rehabilitation and Restoration

This page is dedicated to the City’s initiative to rehabilitate and restore Penn Lake. This is a long-term project. The guiding document for this work is the Penn Lake Management Framework. It is available for download in the documents tab on the lower right of this page.

The Nine Mile Creek Watershed District, is undertaking their own lake water quality study on Penn Lake to identify potential water quality improvement projects to help improve the overall health of the lake. Visit Nine Mile Creek's Penn Lake project page.

Please take a few moments to share your stories about Penn Lake and let us know what would bring you out to an event this summer and into the future.

Stories

What's your Penn Lake story?

FISHING | WILDLIFE | WALKS | PICNICS

Please share your memories from yesterday or a yesteryear long ago that make Penn Lake special to you. Registration is not required, however you will be asked for an e-mail and your name so we can contact you if we'd like to use your story in promotions.

Thank you for sharing your story with us.

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Enjoyed in All Seasons

by Tom & Kristin P, over 1 year ago

We have enjoyed Penn Lake in all seasons - Walking, Kayaking, Skiing & Skating. We have also taken many dramatic pictures of sunset over the lake.
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50plus years of bliss!

by Betty and Bob, over 1 year ago

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... Continue reading
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30 years on Upper Penn Lake

by Ann and Bob Carr, over 1 year ago

We first walked into our house with our realtor in August of 1992, . We looked out to the back yard and saw two large pine trees over looking the lake and we said "Sold". It didn't matter what the rest of the house looked like, we knew this was the house we wanted.
Fast forward 30 years, our 4 kids have grown up playing on the water, the ice and on the islands. Canoeing, kayaking, toading, skating and sliding.
Now, sitting on the deck, falling asleep and waking up to all the sounds of the critters on the lake-it... Continue reading
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Serenity

by Keira, over 1 year ago

Love taking my dogs for walks near and watching the wildlife. Gives you a piece of serenity in a busy city area. Always get awesome pics of the sunset. Love coming here and taking a moment to enjoy nature, as well as the peace and quiet it brings.
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Little slice of heaven

by Jim and Christi, over 1 year ago

We love living here in the serene surroundings that Penn Lake has provided. From my kitchen window I can see the waters of Penn Lake sparkling in the morning sun. This scene sends a song to my heart as I begin the day and that feeling lasts throughout. We enjoy the wildlife that varies from year to year, there are deer, fox, eagles, owls, and many types of ducks, some find a stopping place here during migration and some stick around like the geese who seem to love it here too! Penn Lake is beautiful in all of the seasons... Continue reading
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Wildlife Sanctuary

by Rgrant , over 1 year ago

When I think of Penn Lake the first thing that comes to mind is all of the wildlife.

The eagles are the most prominent and are extremely active in the spring and early summer. Watching them gather items to improve their nest is a cool process to witness.

We also regularly see multiple types of ducks, many song birds, foxes, herons, egrets, and more. It’s quite impressive the habitat that exists here.

Its great to be able to kayak, canoe, and paddleboard and see others do the same.

Penn Lake is a peaceful oasis for those that live on it... Continue reading
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Back to Nature

by WDonigan, over 1 year ago

I bought a house on Lower Penn Lake in April and like many others, the lake was a huge draw for me. Being able to sit in my office and gaze out at the lake brings a sense of calm and happiness to my otherwise hectic work days. As another poster commented, moving is hard work, so I haven't been able to get out on the lake yet but I have an inflatable row boat ready to go the minute I get a chance. By next summer I plan on having a small dock where I can spend lazy Sunday... Continue reading
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Amazing Wildlife

by J.T., over 1 year ago

For its location near two major freeways in a busy suburb, Penn Lake is a wildlife sanctuary. Living here nearly 30 years we have seen fox, eagles, snapping turtles, deer, waterfowl, muskrats, opossum, toads and multiple species of birds. When I share scenes of the lake and wildlife people ask me if I have a lake house up north and I have to explain that, no, I live on a pond in a major metro area.

As far as changes to the lake, I would love to see more effort to educate and encourage the neighborhood to consider more native... Continue reading
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Love all the wildlife at Penn Lake ❤

by G.Z., over 1 year ago

I feel so lucky to be able to look out on the lake everyday. I have seen Deer, Geese, Mallards, Cormorants, Mergansers, Egrits, Fox, Turkeys, Eagles, Owls and so many types of Birds to the feeder each day. Penn Lake is a wildlife sanctuary.
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The eagle’s lake

by E.F., over 1 year ago

The Lower Penn Lake has been source to many varied forms of wildlife. Foxes, geese, blue herons, birds, beavers, hawks, and a longtime resident eagle. The eagle has nested for years and had babies. He can be seen hunting on the ice in winter and hunting when the offspring are young. One time out on the water in the kayak we watched the adult teaching his offspring to soar. Over our heads… higher and higher the baby went… until it literally flew from sight. This has also been a migratory lake with fascinating formations… it is not a private lake... Continue reading