Ground was broken for the lake in June 1971. Because of the construction of Routes I-95 and I-295, the lake basin was excavated at no cost to the county. The county sold the gravel to the highway contractors, which in turn helped excavate the basin now known as Lake Mercer.
Amenities include Boathouse/Marina, Finn Caspersen Rowing Center, Crew Course, Hiking and Trails, and Fishing