Cheney Lake (Anchorage, Alaska)

USA / Alaska / Point MacKenzie / Anchorage, Alaska
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Pronounced "CHEE-nee", not "CHAY-nee" like the Vice-President.

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(Comment by J.R. Akin)

I grew up in this neighborhood from December 1969 until leaving home in 1981 and usually heard it pronounced "SHAY-nee" Lake and sometimes "CHAY-nee" Lake but never "CHEE-nee" Lake.

During the early and mid 1970's, I don't remember ever hearing any official name for it. We kids just knew it as "the lake" although even as a kid I thought calling it a lake was a stretch. It was just an old gravel pit that was partially filled with stinking, algae-laden water.

The place was an eyesore until the late 70's when they started fixing it up. It looks much better than it used to.
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(comment by p. smith)

i've lived in the area from 1975 to present and have always heard it pronounced "CHEE-nee". agreed, it's gone from nasty to nice. i've got to wonder whether there might be pike in it, 'cause i don't see a lot of baby ducks, etc. around any more.
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   61°12'8"N   149°45'36"W

Comments

  • It's pronounced CHAY-nee! A former gravel pit that was later flooded, in the 1970's it was a fine place to abandon cars, old appliances, furniture or anything too big for the garbage truck to pick up. The water was not anything you'd want to touch. Now, years after being cleaned up, visitors and locals alike think it's a pristine piece of urban wilderness. It is regularly stocked with fish for year round fishing, and in the winter the city maintains a skating area on the frozen surface.
This article was last modified 19 years ago