Mom and I took a walk around Normandale Lake Park last weekend. When Mom first moved back from Germany in 2007, she lived with Gramma for about four months. The lake was not that far from her house, so she would take Katie and Emma there for walks a few times a month. None of my current siblings have been there, but now maybe we too will go now and then.
The lake itself is man-made. It was created from a marsh flood plain along Nine Mile Creek in 1979 to help control water levels downstream. There is a walking path around the lake that is 1.9 miles long and an outer path with is a combination bike/walking path. Although it feels like you are in the woods a lot of the time, the lake is right in the midst of a business and residential high-rise area. Despite being a “city” lake, you feel completely out in nature.
The trails are asphalt and plenty wide to allow for passing. Even though it was a gorgeous day, and not too warm, there were not many people walking around the lake. That makes us happy as we prefer to have places to ourselves.
Trees along the way provide a lot of green and shade which is nice. Normandale Lake itself is covered in lilypads and other green water plants. With all the stuff growing in the shallow water, it is no surprise that we didn’t see any boats using the launch, or on the lake itself.
There is also a bandshell on the lake. They have concerts and other events there during the summer months.
Mom let me get up on stage and asked me to howl some tunes. Well, I’m not crazy, so I got on the stage, but I did not sing for the people! It’s very pretty with the light shining through the colored glass on the back, lake side.
Here is a shot of me with the businesses and condos in the background on the other side of the lake. Despite the roads going by and buildings, it is a very peaceful place to walk.
For anyone with a death wish, look behind me. That is the Bush Lake Ski Jump. It is seventy meters up in the air! I can’t even bring myself to look at it. It is pretty famous and has domestic and international jumping competitions in the winter. Even some Olympic jumpers have jumped off it.
As we continued our walk around the lake, I noticed there was a shadow following me. Kind of creepy, I know.
Finally, I leave you with our favorite thing in the park, the little waterfall. Mom had forgotten it was even there. The lighting wasn’t great for a portrait of me with the falls, but we took our best shot anyway. I hope you enjoyed my little Normandale Lake tour. Hopefully we will go back more often now.
I’m joining my friends at Living Laughing and Barking in Our Backyard for their Nature Friday blog hop.
the waterfall is super!!! our mama read normandy and not normandale, she was totally surprised that you are so close today… santa… bring her new glasses……
LOL! Have not made it to Normandy. It is a very long walk to the ocean and the swim is really long.
Looks like a delightful park!
It is really nice.
Love that waterfall! That park is a lovely respite from being in the city.
It is. Hard to believe when you walk around it you don’t even notice that you are in the midst of everything.
Love going on adventures with you
I love going on adventures, once I am out of the car.
WHOO what a fun and walk about. NOPE no worries about me taking that ski jump but it is fun to see
Thank you and mom for the pictures and taking us on the walk
Hugs cecilia.
We can’t imagine a sane person going down that thing but people jump out of airplanes too.
We love going on your adventures with you! WATERFALLS – fun! Ski jumps???NO WAY JOSE! When we first saw this, we thought it was a boom from a dredge. Mom worked for the Corps of Engineers and spent a lot of time with overseeing dredging operations. Jimmy Parker
Nope, it is a well know ski jump but we are not jumping!
Isn’t it always lovely to find an oasis of nature right in the city.
But that ski jump reminds Gail of a conversation she once had with some Norwegian colleagues, regarding the ‘sport’ of ski jumping. They told her they all got to try it out when they were little, and only those kids who were a bit deficient in brain cells took it further…
Toodle-oo!
Nobby.
LOL, that is funny. Mom has been to Norway a few times and seen their big famous jump Holmenkollen. People have to be crazy to ski jump!
You go the best places and take the best photos of your sweet doggie ~ Wow!
Wishing your good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Thank you. We all love exploring.
You have so many lovely outdoor places to walk (and the weather for it, too!) … woods and lakes and trails, plus plus. How lucky you are … we did wonder if the new shadow pup followed you home to join the family?
Mom says it is already in the family and has been for ten years. I feel like she is talking about me???
What a beautiful park and we love the waterfall! There is nothing more wonderful than a waterlily in bloom!
Lots of lilies there and the waterfall is so pretty and cute all in one. Just a small one.
Looks like a fun place to walk!
It is really nice. We will be going back.
That sure is a pretty area and quite the pretty place to hang out. I’ll bet a concert there would be fun!
They have lots of events at the theater during the summer.
It’s a delightful place and I do hope to see more pictures of all of you enjoying it soon.
Hopefully my siblings will get there too.
What a terrific city lake/park. We love the waterfall scene and hope you and the rest of the crew can revisit it again soon.
I think we will all get there for walks now and then. Mom had forgotten how nice it is.
Normandale Lake is beautiful Bailie, especially the little waterfall. Thanks for showing us around!
xoxo,
Rosy & Sunny
It’s a treasure in the city, so nice and peaceful.