Wilde Lake, Columbia, Maryland

Wilde Lake is an artificial lake and a surrounding neighborhood, or "village", located in Columbia, Maryland. It was the first portion of the "New Town" of Columbia to be built during the late 1960s. The lake itself is named for Frazar B. Wilde, a past chairman of the board of Connecticut General Life Insurance Company. In 1963, the company agreed to invest in the project and, in return, acquired an equity participation. This arrangement was subsequently formalized by the creation of The Howard Research and Development Corporation, the joint venture established to develop Columbia.Kimco Realty Corporation, the current owner of the village center, has announced that James Rouse's original and historic design is to be demolished and replaced by 500 apartment units with the removal of the retail units to Lynx Lane.

Neighborhoods

Neighborhoods in the Village of Wilde Lake include: Bryant Woods (named for William Cullen Bryant), Faulkner Ridge (named for William Faulkner), Running Brook (where the streets are named for Robert Frost's poems and Aesop's Fables), and The Birches.

ervices

The village center is located in the Wilde Lake Village Green, and has various small grocery stores, restaurants, and other retail establishments. The Wilde Lake Community Center is named Slayton House, which was named for John Slayton, first manager of the Columbia Association.

Education

Wilde Lake High School, alma mater of actor (and grandson of Columbia founder James W. Rouse) Edward Norton, is located in the Village of Wilde Lake. Wilde Lake High School's architecture includes 4 floors, skylights, and open hallways that overlook a central hallway nicknamed "Main Street." It is home to The Jim Rouse Theater, which houses performing arts performances for both the school's programs and for organizations throughout Columbia. The school is well known for its outstanding performing arts program.

Wilde Lake High School [1] , which opened in 1971 as a model school for the nation, was the first high school to open in Columbia. The old design was oval and two stories, with a media center located in the center and accessible from the second level. The original high school was demolished in 1996 and a new one constructed.

There is also a Bryant Woods elementary, Running Brook elementary, Faulkner Ridge elementary, and Wilde Lake Middle in the Village of Wilde Lake.

Recreation

The Columbia Swim Center, which contains three indoor pools and a water slide called "Splashdown," is located in the village center.

The walking path around the 22 acre lake is convert|1.46|mi|km long.

External links

*Official site [http://wildelake.columbiavillages.org/]