be dumped into smaller ponds to be removed more easily. An ecosystem Lake El Estero is an ecosystem that supports large amounts of life and is home to a countless number of birds, fish, and plants. Over 300 species of birds live in Lake El Estero Park. Many birds migrating south stop at the lake to rest such as the ring-billed gull, the western gull, the California gull, the mud hen, the black-crowned night heron, and the great blue heron. During the summer the brown pelican comes in from the south. Many ducks live there year-round such as the mallard. Many others find a home in Lake El Estero such as the ruddy duck, bufflehead duck, and Canada goose. Feeding the birds has been prohibited and they rely on local vegetation. Many other animals live in the waters of Lake El Estero, including the western pond turtle, Pacific tree frog, red-legged frog, crayfish, and several varieties of fish such as the tule perch, Sacramento perch, and Sacramento blackfish. There is a large amount of vegetation in Lake El Estero important to the many organisms that live there. The California Tule of California Bulrush provides a good nesting site for birds and its stems make a refuge for fish. Other commonly seen plants and trees are the Monterey cypress, the Monterey pine, the cattail, the coast live oak, the arroyo willow, and the yellow willow. The lake is stocked regularly by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife with trout. A fishing license is needed to lawfully fish. El Estero Park Complex The El Estero Park has playgrounds, playfields, a skatepark, and boats to attract both tourists and locals. Dennis the Menace Playground The Dennis the Menace Playground was designed by cartoon writer Hank Ketcham and with the help of sculptor Arch Garner. In May 1954, a model for the design was approved by the Monterey planning commission. The playground opened on November 17, 1956 with a variety of children's play areas including a 1924 locomotive steam engine, donated by the Southern Pacific Railroad In 1986 a renovation of the park was done, led by landscape architect Richard Murray and cost at least $300,000. In this renovation a 30-ft tall rope swing was added along with other new playground equipment. In 2017, there were additional renovations and additional rides to meet ADA concerns. Southern Pacific Locomotive Steam Engine Access The city