The Lake

“The Lake” is a nickname for the LaSalle Park neighborhood on the far West Side of South Bend, IN. The history of the neighborhood and everything it has experienced are so unbelievable, the story simply must be told. Longtime city leader Lynn Coleman joins me and helps tell the neighborhood's story.

The neighborhood is situated near a city park called LaSalle Park. Within LaSalle park is a small body of water called, "Beck's Lake". Currently, the park looks just like any other city park with a playground, shelter, community center, etc. However, prior to the 1920s, Beck's Lake was a much larger lake ecosystem thriving with hunting, wildlife, fishing, etc. In the 1920s, the lake was drained for a sewer project, leaving the shallow marsh type area we see today. From the 1930s until the 1950s, it was an official city trash dump called Beck's Lake Dump. ALL types of unsafe, toxic materials and trash were deposited in the dump. After the dump officially closed, people continued illegally dumping here for years after that.

Even though there was a city dump nearby, houses were still built and a community formed. This community has had a positive impact on many South Bend residents, including Lynn Coleman.

In this episode, I meet with Lynn Coleman. Lynn is a lifelong South Bend resident, retired police officer, former assistant to the mayor, local leader, family man, and he owes ALL of that, to growing up on The Lake.  

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