August 2025 Newsletter

August 1, 2025

Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation
🌞 August 2025 🌞
Newsletter

Barbara Manzo, President of Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation, with summer palms.

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

Well, the Dog Days of August are upon us, and boy, is it hot!
But then again, it’s been hot all Summer, so don’t despair! Only one to two more months of this and we can enjoy some cooler, drier days. And of course, there’s Lakes Park, an oasis away from all the heat, where you can enjoy shaded picnic areas, gardens, birds, and other wildlife.
Not to mention the many beautiful trails around the lake for walking or strolling.
If you have children, they will soon be off to school.
Wow, how time flies.
We will be watching the weather with fingers crossed, hoping that we don’t get hit by another hurricane. We are still trying to catch up from the last three!

Thank you again to all our wonderful supporters who continue to make donations.
Words cannot express our gratitude. We couldn't have done it without you.

Barbara Manzo
President LPEF

Please see the news below and don’t hesitate to write or call us with your suggestions and comments.
Our mailing address is: PO Box 61076, Ft Myers, FL, 33906

Barbara Manzo
President LPEF
barbara.manzo@lakespark.org

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

Lakes Park Fall Festival~Scarecrows In The Park!
Scarecrows in the Park will cover the Children's Garden in October. SIGN UP NOW to build or sponsor one of the "Wild, Wacky or Weird Scarecrow"!
School & Youth Groups are FREE🎃
Businesses and Organizations are welcome to build or sponsor a youth or school group to create a scarecrow.

Poster: Scarecrow festival at Lakes Park, October 10-31, 2025. Businesses, groups, and individuals can compete in the event.

VIEW FLYER REGISTRATION FORM YOUTH GROUP FLYER KEY DATES & DETAILS

Fall decorations including scarecrows, pumpkins, and a sign reading

CONGRATULATIONS!
Nancy Sanders, you are the Lakes Park June/July Basket Auction Winner!!

August/September Basket Auction

BID TODAY

AUCTION LINK: https://t.ly/YZ3W3
HOW TO BID-Open the comment section first. Then place your bid in the comment section of the basket you would like to bid on! Come back often to see if you are the highest bidder or bid again. Bidding ends on the last day of the month.
Good Luck & Happy Bidding!

👨‍👩‍👧‍👧 Family Fun Basket 👨‍👩‍👧‍👧
Value $175

Enhance your indoor/outdoor activities with this

Family Fun Basket!

Included in this basket are 4 Home Game Everblades Tickets, graciously donated by the Florida Everblades. Enjoy 4 Train Tickets at the Railroad Museum Train Village located in Lakes Park, plus 4 Standard Passes to The Sky Zone Trampoline Park. Also, 3 Puzzles & 1 Sequence Board Game.

This outstanding combination sets the stage for an unforgettable day filled with excitement and enjoyment!

AUCTION LINK: https://t.ly/YZ3W3

Please watch for more auction baskets on Facebook- Lakes Park Basket Auction Group.
Follow this link https://t.ly/k7Snd

Gift basket with board game, VIP pass, and paper money.

What's New in the Park?

Discover the enchanting Children's Garden at Lakes Park and soak in the breathtaking mural 'Serenity' by Roland Ruocco. As you stroll through the Park, challenge yourself to spot all the charming birds hidden in the artwork. How many can you identify?

Green grassy park with a painted mural of a pond, birds, and trees on a white fence.

Mural of a wetland scene with birds, trees, and water; an eagle flies above. Green, blue, and brown tones.

Man stands near a mural of an osprey over a lake, pointing. The wall is green and light yellow.

About the artist
Roland Ruocco. Fine Artist SWFL USA
A New York native, I attended The High School of Art and Design in Manhattan, then Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. After moving to South Florida in 2001, I established my working studio in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. From 2010 to 2017, my studio and exhibition space were located in Miami’s Wynwood Art District. After relocating to Southwest Florida in 2017, I transitioned to adding public art mural projects to my fine art pursuits. In both 2022 and 2023, I was a recipient of the City of Fort Myers Arts & Culture-Grant for public art. I have currently completed over forty-five, and counting, contracted mural projects in the Southwest Florida area. Among the most notable are the Large Gesturing Hand, Dunbar Strong, City of Cape Coral Tribute, and McCollum Hall. My Florida-based studio also serves as the home for the New Light Foundation, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization through which my wife, artist Wendy White, and I have conducted grant-driven art-based community outreach programs for many years.

954 829 3832 • rolandruocco@gmail.com • www.rolandruocco.com • IN@rolandruocco • FB/roland.ruocco

Explore, have fun, and win prizes this summer with

'Parks, Points & Perks'

Official Website link:
www://www.visitfortmyers.com/digital-passes/perks

The Railroad Museum of South Florida, Inc. is a non-profit corporation dedicated to preserving, collecting, documenting and interpreting the exciting story of the railroads of America. The Outdoor exhibits include a cosmetically restored 1905 Atlantic Coastline Railroad 0-6-0 Baldwin Locomotive and Tender, and a cosmetically restored 1953 Seaboard Airline Railroad Caboose.

🚆 Train Operating Hours 🚆
Currently: M-F 10am-2pm Sat-Sun 10am-4pm
Beginning August 11th and ending on September 30th, we will only be open on Weekends and Labor Day.

As of October 1st, we will return to our regular schedule: Monday through Friday, 10am-2pm, and Saturday & Sunday, 10 am-4pm.

Halloween Express Starts October 11th thru 31st, 2025

People ride a small train on a track. The train is outdoors on a sunny day.

Would you like to volunteer?
www.rrmsf.org/volunteer

Hi Birding Buddies,
We hope to see you on Saturday, August 2nd, at Lakes Park Regional Park at 8:00 a.m. Meet at Shelter A 1.
YES, that's right, Walt wants to meet at Shelter A 1, which is to the left after entering from Gladiolus. This is the opposite direction from A 7, which is usually the starting point.
Good Birding!

7330 Gladiolus Drive, Ft Myers, FL 33908

🐰🦅 Lakes Park Bird Patrol Led Nature Walks 🐦🐰

Bird & Nature Walk
Lakes Park every first Saturday of every month!
The tour is FREE with paid parking | Parking is $1/hour or $5/all day
WHEN? 8 am Please arrive a few minutes earlier | The walk starts promptly at 8 am

Meet at Shelter A7 located near the Train Station
Bring water, binoculars & sunscreen
Please wear comfortable shoes 👟 & dress for the weather

INFORMATION: 📞Call (239)533-7275
7330 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33908

The Tour is free with paid parking. Parking is $ 1 per hour or
$5 for the entire day.

Group of people standing in a grassy area with palm trees in the background on a hazy day.

🌴 GARDEN NEWS 🌴

Entrance to Children's Garden with stone pillars, sign, colorful letters, flowers, and a gate.

Statue of a monkey hanging from a tree, holding an object to its mouth.

Meet our new addition to the Children's Garden Alex the Monkey!
You can find him hiding in the Mango Tree. He is the playful guardian of the Banana Forest.
He loves to swing, snack, and surprise visitors—so keep your eyes up and your bananas close!

🌻 Community Garden🌻
The Community Gardens are
resting for the summer🌞

Gardening tips: Incorporate eco-friendly practices, water daily, use mulch, and prune regularly.

💐 Fragrance Garden & Succulent Garden 💐

Pond with a small wooden bridge, statue, and Japanese lantern; trees in the background.

Garden path with brick and stone, leading to a gazebo, surrounded by plants and white gravel under a cloudy sky.

Wooden bridge over a pond in a garden with lush greenery and trees.

🌹🌹 Rose Garden 🌹🌹

Yellow rose with multiple layers of petals, surrounded by green leaves and a blurred background.

Pink rose in full bloom, surrounded by green buds and leaves.

Be sure to take a walk through one or all of our gardens!

🐰 Leave your mark on Lakes Park !!🐰

Dedicate a brick to a loved one, and honor them for years to come.

It's a perfect gift for New Year's🍾Valentine's Day💗
St. Patrick's Day🍀Easter🐰Mother's Day🌼Memorial Day⛿Father's Day💪4th of July🌟Labor Day 👩‍🔧👩‍🏫Halloween🍊Veteran Day🔹Thanksgiving🦃Christmas🎄 Birthdays🍰& Anniversaries💍

Your donation will help create beautiful paved paths in select areas of the park.
Three locations to choose from:
The Train Station, the Children’s Garden or the Rose Garden.
✔️Complete the form here: https://t.ly/Y03dO

Close-up of commemorative bricks with names and dates inscribed on them.

Bricks with engraved names arranged in a walkway pattern.

Close-up of engraved memorial bricks with names and dates.

Lakes Park Tidbits

At Lakes Park, discover activities that benefit your mind, body and soul. Bring your family and friends and improve your well-being today. There's something for everyone, making it a perfect destination for all!

The park has 158 acres of man-made freshwater lakes
A scenic boardwalk & walking trails, paved & natural (accessible to people with mobility issues)

You can spot birds like Ibises, herons, and sometimes alligators—be mindful when strolling along! There are fitness stations around the water.
Children's Garden, Community Garden, Fragrance & Succulent Gardens & Rose Garden -Covered picnic areas & playground
Train Museum & a miniature train that offers 15-minute rides. Bike & boat rentals & food concessions
Park volunteers also provide assisted tours on a golf cart.