A renovated Burnham Lake welcomed visitors and residents who had missed its traditional boat rides on Tuesday, Sept. 1, after nearly a year behind construction barriers for a P480-million rehabilitation project.
People scampered down new boardwalks surrounding the century-old man-made lake following a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) head Mark Lapid, and Baguio Rep. Mauricio Domogan.
Built alongside Baguio 117 years ago by the American colonial government, the lake had been closed since October 2025 for a rehabilitation and improvement project.
The nearly four-hectare lake forms part of the 33-hectare Burnham Park, which was part of Baguio’s original design drawn up in 1903 by Chicago architect Daniel Burnham.
The rehabilitation included a new wooden boardwalk, reinforced lake embankments, improvements to the view deck, and new boats for returning concessionaires.
The city government said the lake’s reopening does not mean all areas of Burnham Park have reopened, as some facilities remain subject to safety assessments.
The next phase of rehabilitation will cover the Children’s Park, Skating Rink, and Rose Garden