Cross Lake is an 8575 acres (35 km²) lake

Lake

A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...

 located near Shreveport, Louisiana

Shreveport, Louisiana

Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....

. The waterway provides the water supply for the City of Shreveport. Moss covered cypress trees line the banks of this open lake popular for fishing and recreational boating. Supporting waterfowl, alligator

Alligator

An alligator is a crocodilian in the genus Alligator of the family Alligatoridae. There are two extant alligator species: the American alligator and the Chinese alligator ....

s and an abundance of wildlife. There are many access sites, several commercial facilities, and two public parks.

Cross Lake was acquired by the City of Shreveport during the administration of Mayor John H. Eastman

John H. Eastman

John H. Eastman was a businessman who served from 1910-1914 as the mayor of Shreveport, the third largest city in Louisiana and the largest in the northwestern section of the state....

. Cross Lake Reservoir was constructed thereafter under the administration of Mayor Lee Emmett Thomas

Lee Emmett Thomas

Lee Emmett Thomas was an attorney and banker who served as the mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana, from 1922–1930. He was also from 1912–1916 the Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives.-Background:...

. Under Mayor Sam Caldwell

Sam Caldwell

Samuel Shepherd Caldwell, known as Sam Caldwell , was an oilman who served as the Democratic mayor of Shreveport, Louisiana, from 1934-1946....

, Cross Lake was stocked with fish.

Ford Park

Ford Park (Shreveport, Louisiana)

Ford Park is a popular facility operated by the City of Shreveport, the seat of Caddo Parish in northwestern Louisiana. The park is located in north Shreveport at 5784 South Lakeshore Drive near the municipal pier and boat launch....

, a recreational facility on the lake, is named for the former mayor

Mayor

In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....

 and finance commissioner John McW. Ford

John McW. Ford

John McWilliams Ford was the longest-serving elected public official in Shreveport, Louisiana. Though he served as mayor only from 1918–1922, it was his tenure as finance commissioner that is most remembered for longevity -- from 1930 until his death...

(1880–1965).