History of the Nature Area

Did you know there were separate plans to turn this nature area into a golf course, more houses, or even a state park? Originally, the area around the lake was entirely private property. By the 1940's, most property owners had sold the land surrounding the park to the city of Lodi. In the 1950's, the City Council gave the deed to the land to the California State Parks department, with a plan to expand the 60-acre park into a 495-acre park, about eight times its size. However, a developer built a luxury housing tract in the middle of the land that would have been part of the park and the plan was scrapped, with the deed returned back to the city. After the failed state park conversion, the land was rezoned for housing. In the 1970's, developers wanted to turn this nature area into a golf course. David Yee, a Lodi resident and member of the Audubon Society, spoke up against this plan at a City Council meeting. He shared information about the many bird species that live in the area, explaining how this makes it a valuable resource. Yee's activism was a major force in preserving the nature area for us to enjoy today.