July 2026 Newsletter
Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation
July Newsletter
The Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation's Mission is to enhance & enrich the beauty and experience of Lakes Park
🌞A Message From The President🌞
This month, we celebrate the 250th Anniversary of our Independence. I remember so vividly the Bicentennial celebrations of 1976. Hard to believe that was 50 years ago. I lived in New York at the time, and there were endless events to mark that special day. The Tall Ships sailed into NY Harbor, and Lady Liberty was decked out in color. The fireworks displays were the most extravagant ever. But the thing I remember most as I headed back from visiting the Tall Ships was my car dying on Interstate 95 in what was then one of the “worst neighborhoods in the Bronx”. My old car was on the side of the exit, dead. I was a young woman alone, and there were no phones and no way to call my family for help. I sat there wondering if I would make it home alive that day when a man pulled over and offered to help. My gut told me to trust him. What choice did I have? He tried to start the car, but to no avail. Then he offered to drive me to my home, a half an hour away. I offered to pay him, but he refused. He was not of the same race, religion, or social background as I. He delivered me to my family’s house safe and sound and wouldn’t take a cent from my father, even for gas. We became friends and kept in touch for years. I don’t know where he is today, but fifty years later, as we celebrate the beauty and diversity that is America, I will remember him and say “Thanks” again for being there for me when I needed a hand!
Happy
250th and God Bless America!
Please see the news below and don’t hesitate to write or call us with your suggestions and comments. Please share this newsletter with your friends & family.
Our mailing address is: PO Box 61076, Ft Myers, FL, 33906
Barbara Manzo
President LPEF
barbara.manzo@lakespark.org
July brings sunshine, outdoor adventures, family gatherings, and patriotic celebrations. Enjoy nature, create memories, and discover the beauty of Lakes Park all summer long. 🌳☀️
🎉🎂Happy 250th Birthday, America!🥂🎉
What's Happening in the Park?
Updates, Reminders, and Special Alerts
REMINDER! Make sure to pay for parking to avoid any citations in the mail.
($1 an hour or $5 for the day)
Great News!
Our splash pads will be up and running soon.
Keep an eye on our social media pages or website for more exciting details!
Picture this!
📸 Lakes Park Photo Feature of the Month! 🌿
Do you have a stunning snapshot from Lakes Regional Park? Now’s your chance to shine!
Share your favorite Lakes Park photo on our Facebook page or tag us @LakesParkEnrichmentFoundation for an opportunity to be featured in our Monthly Newsletter.
Show off those sunsets, nature trails, wildlife moments, and family memories — we can’t wait to see the park through your lens! 🌅✨
( Visit Fort Myers ) ~@VisitFortMyers
7330 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33908
PHOTO CREDITS (4 photos): Dominique Schmidt
Thank you for your incredible images taken at Lakes Park!
Camp Highlights- Check out the Lee County Parks & Recreation Flickr Page
at https://flickr.com/photos/201793802@N03/albums
🚂Railroad Museum News 🚂
The "Liberty Express" will be running from May 23 through July 4!
Flags from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, + 5 Territories will be proudly displayed along the train route!
We will be operating during our normal schedule:
Monday–Friday: 10 AM – 2 PM
Saturday–Sunday: 10 AM – 4 PM
We will also be open 10 AM – 4 PM on the upcoming federal holiday:
Friday, July 3rd, for the 4th of July
Would you like to volunteer?
www.rrmsf.org/volunteer
Bird & Nature Walk 🐦🌿
Join us on the first Saturday of every month for a relaxing and exciting Bird & Nature Walk through beautiful Lakes Park!
🕗
When:
8:00 AM (arrive a few minutes early—walk begins promptly!)
📍
Where:
Meet at Shelter A7 near the Train Station
Enter from Gladiolus, turn right, and follow the road to the end through the parking lot.
Bring your sense of adventure along with water, binoculars, and sunscreen. Don’t forget comfortable shoes and dress for the weather!
Discover local wildlife, enjoy peaceful scenery, and connect with fellow nature lovers.
The tour is free with paid parking.🦅
Good birding!
Marie Di Rosa | (239) 789-5755
Garden News!
📚 StoryTime! Will be back in October!📚
June Garden News
Greetings Gardeners,
Your Steering Committee is busy preparing for renewals and managing the challenges of our hot, rainy summer season. Please note these important dates:
August 15: Renewal emails sent (email only—please ensure we have your current contact information).
September 15: Signed contracts and payments due. If you do not plan to renew your bed, please notify Betsy at wildflowergreen22@gmail.com and clean out your bed before leaving.
September 20: Open bed lottery emails sent to new gardeners.
Looking ahead to fall planting:
- Around September 21: Soil delivery for gardeners who wish to top off their beds.
- October 3: Plant Sale could feature tomatoes, peppers, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, collards, and free seeds for gardeners.
Thank you for helping keep our garden thriving!
A reminder to all gardeners:
During the rainy season, weeds grow quickly. Please keep the inside of your bed and the area around the bottom weed-free.
You may earn volunteer hours by weeding around hoses, fences, and sheds. All weeds and greens must be discarded in the trash bins—please do not leave them on the ground or outside your bed.
Remember, 40 volunteer hours earn you a free Lakes Park parking pass. Thank you for helping keep the garden clean and beautiful!
Credit: Lakes Park Community Garden Newsletter
💐 Fragrance Garden & Succulent Garden 💐
The succulent garden is putting on a beautiful show, with vibrant rosettes and delicate blooms brightening the landscape.
Be sure to take a walk through one or all of our gardens!
🧱🧱 Leave your legacy at Lakes Park! 🧱🧱
Create something lasting by dedicating a personalized brick—an enduring tribute to someone special that will be seen and remembered for years to come
Your contribution helps bring beautiful paved pathways to life throughout the park.
Choose a meaningful spot for your brick: the Train Station, the Children’s Garden, or the Rose Garden.
✔️Complete the form here: https://t.ly/Y03dO
“THE MISSION of Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation is to enhance the beauty and experience of Lakes Park.”— Barbara Manzo, President.
The Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation is a nonprofit organization tasked with enhancing the beauty and experience of Lakes Park. The Foundation continues to make efforts to grow its membership, volunteerism, and donations.
Currently, the Foundation is working to raise funds that support the following enhancements to Lakes Park:
- COMMUNITY GARDEN – replacement of aging raised beds where people learn to grow their own food and donate the extra to a local soup kitchen.
- CHILDREN’S GARDEN – planned additions include murals and other educational opportunities.
- LAKES PARK SUMMER CAMP – funding of programs and equipment to enhance the Summer Camp experience.
Copyright © 2026 Lakes Park, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
PO Box 61076 Ft. Myers, FL, 33906
239.533.7578
