In March of 2000, the community of Lake Park made its entrance into cyberspace with a community website.
June 12, 2001: Severe thunderstorms rolled through Lake Park on this night. The first line dropped large hail across the area damaging many homes and destroying crops, even forcing some area farmers to abandon entire corn fields. Storm reports from this night included: 1.75" hail at May City, 2.75" hail at Ocheyedan, 1.75" hail 2 miles west of Harris, 1.75" hail in Lake Park and also 10 miles south of Lake Park, and two reported tornado touchdowns near Montgomery and Spirit Lake.
More storms rumbled through the area on the evening of June 13, 2001. The main threat with these storms were high winds. Storm spotters observed a 70 mph wind gust in Lake Park as the storms moved through.
September 11, 2001 - a date that will forever be etched in the memory of all Americans. On this day, terrorists flew commercial airliners into the World Trade Center buildings in New York and into the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. In Lake Park, residents gathered for a community church service to pray for the victims and for the nation.
"Freedom itself was attacked this morning by faceless cowards. And freedom will be defended."
- President George W. Bush, September 11, 2001
December 2001: Voters for the second time defeated a bond measure that would have constructed a new High School east of the pool and moved the Elementary students to the current High School.
On February 1, 2002, the City of Lake Park website was revamped with much more information about the community and the City itself.
On July 2, 2002, voters in the Harris-Lake Park School District approved a $4 million bond issue that will construct a new 7-12 educational facility on Lake Park's south side. In addition, a new community center, shared public/school library and athletic fields will be developed on land east of M27 and north of 140th Street (cemetery road). The measure passed overwhelmingly in Lake Park while only 25% of voters in Harris approved the bond. Overall, 63% of the voters approved the bond, surpassing the required 60% super-majority required by Iowa law.
December 7, 2003: An open house was held to officially open the new community center. The building is now available for Dinner Date, meetings, conferences, dances and any other type of get-together.
In the fall of 2004 the new Harris-Lake Park Middle and High School opens its doors to students. The elementary students are now in the former high school building in Lake Park. The 1915 school in Harris now sits empty.
In the spring of 2005, the price of gas topped the $2.00 per gallon mark for the first time ever. Through the summer of 2005 the price would steadily climb and reach $2.50 by mid-August of that year.
In August of 2005, demolition of the Harris school got into full swing with most the building being torn down in a matter of three days.
In September of 2005, the price of gas neared $3.00 per gallon following Hurricane Katrina which devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Gas would again near the $3 mark in the summer of 2006 and top $3 per gallon in 2007 and again in 2008. In April of 2008, the cost of diesel topped $4 per gallon.
On December 28, 2008, a fire broke out at Hemphill Family Care Center on main street. The fire would destroy that building, a vacant building to the north and the next building, the former home of Carstensen's Meats. The blaze would also damage the Post Office. Eleven fire departments would battle the fire through the day, bringing it under control by late afternoon. MORE>>
In April of 2013, an Ice Storm struck the area. Ice accumulated on trees and powerlines and caused power outages throughout the area. The ice was followed by several inches of heavy, wet show that caused more tree and powerline damage. The storm would eventually lead to a Federal Disaster Declaration for the region. ICE STORM PHOTOS | SNOW PHOTOS
In the fall of 2016, the Harris-Lake Park Wolves Football team would have the best season ever in school history - ending the season with a 12-1 record, their only loss coming to Don Bosco in the State Championship game in Cedar Falls. MORE>>
From August 1-6, 2017, Lake Park celebrated its 125th Anniversary. Many events took place over the span of six days that drew hundreds of people to Lake Park. MORE>>