At the base of Blue Mountain in Harrisburg's northern tier, the two hundred twelve-acre Wildwood Lake Sanctuary preserves the last vestige of the Susquehanna flood-plain wetlands that were once common before land was filled for Harrisburg's development. Plans connected with Harrisburg's City Beautiful Movement called as early as 1901 for a great park at Wetzel's Swamp, intended as a principal destination for hiking, outings, and lake-oriented water and boating activities. Beginning in 1904, the Harrisburg Park Commission undertook a series of land acquisitions that continued until 1913, when the entire park was assembled. In 1908, landscape architect Warren Manning was retained to plan improvements, including a dam to raise part of the swamp's water level for recreation and boating, while hiking trails and boardwalks added to the park's appeal for horseback riding and bird watching. By 1929, a zoo with animals including lions and elephants had been established. Although the zoo closed during World War II and parts of the park were deeded for other uses, including the campus of Harrisburg Area Community College, which opened in 1964 as Pennsylvania's first community college, the preserve gained new life with the environmentally green, four point three million dollar Olewine Nature Center completed in 1999. Home to the great egret, a variety of heron, water lilies, and the American lotus, Wildwood Lake Sanctuary has endured surrounding development as one of the most unique natural settings within an American city.