Lake Hefner

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Lake Hefner
Location	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Coordinates	35.567820° N 97.595740° WCoordinates: 35.567820° N 97.595740° W
Lake type	reservoir
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	2,500 acres (10 km²)
Average depth	29 ft (9 m)

Lake Hefner is a reservoir in northwestern Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was built in 1947 to expand the water supply for the city of Oklahoma City. It also serves as a major recreational destination, as it is surrounded by 9.5 miles of bicycle trails. Lake Hefner covers 2,500 acres (10 km²) and averages 29 feet (9 m) deep. It is named after Robert A. Hefner, who served as mayor of Oklahoma City from April 11, 1939 to April 8, 1947.

The lake is situated within the Oklahoma City urban area and is subsequently closely bordered by residential areas to the north, west, and east. The Lake Hefner Dam is located along the entire northern side of the lake. The Lake Hefner Parkway borders the east side of the lake. The south side is the least developed, retaining the original forest along much of the shore. The Lake Hefner Golf Course is located on the southwest corner of the lake. Immediately south of this are the Oklahoma City docks, commonly known as the city-side docks, the largest marina on the lake. The other marina on Lake Hefner is the Oklahoma City Boat Club, a private organization that holds weekly sailboat races during the summer and is located on the east side. Just north of the OCBC is the East Wharf area, which contains several fairly upscale restaurants. On the south side of the lake is the YMCA Sailing Center, and Stars and Stripes Park.