Neighborhood Observations: Chollas Lake

It’s Sunday and the harshly concentrated sunlight before dusk swims through the trees. I haven’t been here in a while, but I like to come every so often. I used to visit the lake frequently when I was a little girl. So many things have changed since then. Has the lake changed or just my perspective? A lot of things seem to change dramatically when our adult eyes develop.

Hey look—squirrel! Man, I swear these squirrels are on steroids, or maybe they’re just high on sugar from all the left over picnic crumbles.

Anyway, as I walk through some of the old trails I used to explore when I was younger, I find myself a little disappointed. Things were not as green or flowery as I remembered. I found trash littered in most places and waterless ponds; empty and waiting to be filled.

However, in this disappointment I found new beauty. Although all the magic of this place has disappeared for me, it has emerged and flourished within others. Dads hunched over their children showing them how to bait their hooks, fresh bicycle tracks marking up the dirt, people walking their new pups, and birthday parties seem to be in full swing.

Chollas Lake has been beat up and a little neglected over the years, but the magic of this sleepy urban oasis still remains. For a day, an hour or a few minutes, you can visit the lake and maybe discover something you haven’t seen before or re-discover your past.

What memories do you have about Chollas Lake? Share you thoughts!