The Lakes Park Enrichment Foundations' Mission is to enhance & enrich the beauty and experience of Lakes Park 

Message from the President
April 💐 2025

Aren’t we lucky to be living in Florida right now with the most spectacular weather ever? What better place to be than in Lakes Park? Everything is in bloom, and the wildlife that we treasure is out and about. Just the other day, my friends spotted a Bobcat on the Summerlin Loop Trail. How exciting is that!
As we approach the Spring Season, I want to give tribute to a very special member of our Foundation, Sue Moore. Sue passed away last month and she will be forever missed. Sue was a force to be reckoned with. She was a defender of the park and an avid bird lover (so much so that 22 years ago, we called her “The Bird Lady”). She led Bird Walks and told anyone she could about the importance of the Birds in Lakes Park as well as all the gardens and the other wildlife. And always with her signature straw hat decorated with flowers. Back in 2022, Sue made it her business to meet with the developer of Riva Del Lago, the high rise that was being built on the east side of the park, to ensure that his project did not disrupt the birds. The developer, John Armenia, became friends with Sue and founded the Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation to help the park however he could. Of course, Sue became a member of the Foundation and dedicated her life to the park. Sue had a dream to develop the Children’s Garden, and she and her husband, Frank, made a large donation to get it started. She then went on to get others to donate to her project, and Voilà, what you see today is thanks to Sue. How excited she was to see her dream come true! Reading was another one of Sue’s passions, and Story Time in the park was her favorite activity. In recent years, Sue wasn't able to get to the park as she had on a daily basis, but she still visited when she could be assisted by her family or friends.
As you make your way through the Children’s Garden, the other gardens, or go Birding, remember Sue and how a dream and a never wavering determination to see things happen brought us to where we are today!
Thank you, Sue. You are missed, but I know you are taking care of the birds and gardens in heaven. 
God is lucky to have you!

Barbara Manzo
President LPEF
barbara.manzo@lakespark.org

239-229-0387
 

If you would like to donate, click here- https://t.ly/Y9L5m
Find out more here- www.lakespark.org

The News-Press Release, March 26th, 2025
by Charlie Whitehead

Lakes Park splash pads on mend - $2.6 million from the state will rebuild popular feature

Charlie Whitehead, The News-Press, March 26

It's been 2 1/2 years since Hurricane Ian came ashore and ruined much of Southwest Florida.

Next month parents and kids who love Lakes Regional Park, 7330 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers, will begin to get a special piece of it back.

Lee County commissioners have hired local Gulfpoint Construction, a Fort Myers contractor, to demolish, design and re-build the popular splash pads at the park, typically a bustling 331-acre former rock quarry with everything from amphitheater to volleyball, bike trails around the lake, playgrounds, and picnic areas.

The county purchased the property in the late 1970s. Rock mining in the 1960s had left behind a lake of almost 160 acres with depths ranging from a few inches to more than 20 feet. The regional park opened in 1984.

The county will pay Gulfpoint just under $2.6 million. The company will demolish and haul away the mess Hurricane Ian left behind when it struck the Gulf Coast on Sept. 28, 2022, then design and build the new amenity. It calls for concrete work, plumbing, electrical, shade, water features and fencing.

The project is supposed to begin in April, with hoped-for completion in about a year.

Getting Gulfpoint for the work wasn't easy. The county advertised for proposals back in August but couldn't generate enough interest to award the work. Subsequent efforts lead to a selection committee settling on Gulfpoint, and negotiations began in January.

Funding for the work is approved by FEMA and is coming from the State Division of Emergency Management.

County commissioners approved the project on March 18.

 Lakes Park Summer Camp 
Registration is now open! 

Register 3 ways: ~ Online at www.leeparks.org/register ~ By phone (239) 533-7275 ~ In Person at 7330 Gladiolus Dr. Fort Myers, FL 33908

Specialty camps run from 8am-4:30pm
1st camp begins June 16th-20th, 2025

🚆 Train Operating Hours 🚆
Mon-Fri- 10am-2pm
Sat-Sun & Holidays- 10am-4pm

Our team of volunteers will start decorating the

🐰 Easter Bunny Express 🐰

 two weeks before Good Friday.

 The train will run from 10AM ~ 4PM on Friday through Monday
(Easter weekend).
Would you like to volunteer?: www.rrmsf.org/volunteer

🍊Enjoy the SW Florida weather with us!🍊

We had a special guest at our Story Time on March 20th!
Wil Foor from Family Music Time at Music Together in Fort Myers entertained the children with music and movement.
Everyone, from young to old, was moving and jiving.
There were 24 adults and 37 children.
To learn more about Family Music Time, visit their website, www.familymusictime.com
She will definitely be returning next year!
It was wonderful to see how music and movement brought the children together.

The Lee County Library staff invites you & your kids to sing songs, do a craft & listen to stories. Contact Info@LakesPark.org with any questions! Head over to the Children’s Garden on the 1st & 3rd Thursdays of the Month from 10:30 to 11:30 am. 

Contact Info@LakesPark.org with any questions you may have!

❤️ Community Garden ❤️

Keep an eye out for information on our annual competition, Scarecrows in the Park!
This year's theme is
"Wild, Wacky, Weird World of Scarecrows in the Park"

Greetings Fellow Gardener's, 

This is a note that the Community Cooperative will be accepting donations on Thursday, April 3rd, 2025. We are getting near the end of the season and would really like to get to 1000 pounds! 
There is plenty of time to get to the garden and drop off nonperishable goods.
Leave them in the tall bin in a bag with your name and bed number so Betsy knows who to thank. 

Peanut butter and jelly are needed at this time of year as the food pantry is getting ready for the summer months when the children are off from school and in need of healthy lunches.
If you have any questions or want to help, please email Betsy at wildflowergreen22@gmail.com

Thanks!

The Steering committee meets once a month. 
If you have any suggestions or concerns, email Connie at

communitygarden@lakespark.org  

💐 Fragrance Garden & Succulent Garden 💐