This bustling metropolitan playground offers unlimited recreation opportunities anchored around a 880 surface-acre lake. Cherry Creek State Park offers a natural prairie environment of gentle, rolling hills and complete outdoor recreation facilities, including camping, group picnic sites and facilities for special events, all in the midst of a busy urban area. Visitors can view birds in their natural habitat from the Bird Observatory. Fun seekers visit the park to enjoy boating, jet- and water skiing, sailing, fishing, swimming, biking, horseback riding and more. Some come to the park's shooting range, and others fly their model airplane in the field. Less busy during mid-week, Cherry Creek State Park is a convenient getaway for frazzled urbanites. This state park was the site of the prayer vigil and papal mass with Pope John Paul II during World Youth Day 1993.