Presence of lakes in areas that are experiencing rapid urbanization is essential as it greatly contributes to quality of life and the environment. In view of the importance of urban lakes, the study attempts to gain an insight on the understanding of public recreationists on the influence of lakes towards their quality of life. Questionnaires were developed to record their perspectives. The questionnaires were focused on the most important benefits that respondents derived from visits to the lake, lake contribution factors and factors pertaining to their personal relation to the lake. Findings suggest that urban lakes promote positive lifestyles, offer spaces for physical activities and reduce emotional stress levels. Lakes need to be properly managed, where maintenance and repairs are performed regularly, so that public recreationists feel comfortable and safe. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.