Lake Opeka
{{Short description|Lake in Des Plaines, Illinois, United States}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name = Lake Opeka
| image =
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| image_bathymetry =
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| location = Des Plaines, Illinois
| coords = {{coord|42.0127|-87.8966|format=dms|type:waterbody_region:US-IL|display=inline,title}}
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| basin_countries = United States
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| area = {{convert|40|acre|ha|0|abbr=on}}
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| elevation = {{convert|192|m|order=flip|abbr=on}} {{gnis|1832524}}
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| pushpin_map = Illinois#USA
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt = Location of Lake Opeka in Illinois, USA.
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| website =
| reference =[http://www.desplainesparks.org/facilities/lake_park.asp Lake Park, Des Plaines Park District]
}}
Lake Opeka is a small, {{convert|40|acre|abbr=on}} lake in Des Plaines, Illinois. It is located in the Des Plaines Park District's 76-acre Lake Park.
The man-made lake was created out of what had been farmland{{Cite web |title=Paul Schumann Farm Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=268635 |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}} to provide dirt for the construction of nearby Interstate 90 (the Jane Addams Tollway). According to a sign at Lake Park, it took two years for 2 million gallons of spring-fed water to fill the lake.{{Cite web |title=Lake Park History Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=268890 |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}
After the highway was completed, the Des Plaines Park District acquired 60 acres including the new lake for $1 in 1957, and opened Lake Park in 1961.{{Cite web |date=2016-12-29 |title=History |url=https://desplainesyachtclub.com/history/ |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=Des Plaines Yacht Club |language=en}}
In subsequent years, the park district acquired several parcels of land that had been owned by Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, which was located on the northern bank of the lake. In 2021, the church closed and sold its building to the park district. The building was converted into a restaurant, which opened in 2023.{{Cite web |title=History of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=268782 |access-date=2025-06-27 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}
Recreation
Lake Park surrounds Lake Opeka and offers outdoor recreation as well as an 18-hole par-3 golf course. Jogging paths run around the east side of the park, where a band shelter is located amongst picnic tables and grills, exercise stations and a playground. The southern end has a volleyball sand pit.
File:Lake Opeka Des Plaines March 2025.jpg
Fishing is allowed. Bass, bluegill and occasional northern pike are caught. There are small sailboats and paddleboats using the lake. Many ducks are on the water, some large carp and occasional turtles.
460 man-hours were spent removing submerged and surface vegetation from the lake, to prevent its becoming a threat to aquatic life (due to its using up the oxygen supply when decomposing). The vegetation consisted of the native slender naiad (Najas flexilis), and an excessive amount of filamentous algae.{{cite web |url=https://www.dpparks.org/parks-facilities/lake-park/lake-opeka-ecology-project/ |title=LAKE OPEKA ECOLOGY PROJECT:THE BEAUTY AND HEALTH OF LAKE OPEKA RESTORED BY SCIENCE STUDENTS |publisher=Des Plaines Park District |date=17 January 2017 |website=Des Plaines Park District |access-date=17 January 2017}}
Memorials at Lake Park
Lake Park is home to a Memorial Pavilion, which includes several veterans memorials honoring servicemembers from Des Plaines from the Civil War
On the south end of the park is a memorial to American Airlines Flight 191. On May 25, 1979, a DC-10 crashed shortly after takeoff into an open field about 1¾ miles west of this memorial. The crash killed 271 passengers and two people on the ground, making it the deadliest aviation accident (not including those caused by terrorism) in American history. The memorial to the crash was erected in 2011.{{Cite web |title=American Airlines Flight 191 Memorial Historical Marker |url=https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=217908 |access-date=2025-06-30 |website=www.hmdb.org |language=en}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.dpparks.org/parks-facilities/lake-park/ Lake Park at Des Plaines Park District]
{{Des Plaines, Illinois}}
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Category:Des Plaines, Illinois
Category:Bodies of water of Cook County, Illinois
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