June 2026 Newsletter
Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation
June Newsletter
The Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation's Mission is to enhance & enrich the beauty and experience of Lakes Park
🌞A Message From The President🌞
If you’re wondering how we got to June, I can’t help you. Seems like the older I get, the faster the time goes. The kids are out of school and heading to Summer Camp. Hurricane season is upon us, and the heat is here to stay.
It’s also vacation time for many families, and the beauty of living in Florida is the wealth of things available to do with the family. You don’t have to spend a lot of money or travel very far to unplug from phones and TV and enjoy the outdoors. A day at the beach or a barbecue at Lakes Park while you watch the sunset. A bike ride or a walk through the gardens and lakes. Many of our partners have lots to do, like a boat ride on the Caloosahatchee or a day trip to Cayo Costa.
It’s also turtle season, so how about volunteering with the kids to look for turtle nests and mark them off? Later in the season, you can watch them hatch and make sure they reach the water safely.
If you don’t know what to do, check out our website and those of Lee County Parks and the Visitor and Convention Bureau.
Now is the time to treat the family to the joys of nature.
Come see us at Lakes and have a great summer
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
June is filled with meaningful celebrations, including Flag Day on June 14, Juneteenth on June 19, and Father’s Day on June 21. We wish everyone at Lakes Park a happy and memorable month!
What's Happening in the Park?
Updates, Reminders, and Special Alerts
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!
Be Weather Smart at our Parks.
Check the weather before and during your visit to one of our outdoor facilities. Some of our locations are equipped with a lightning alert system. Alerts can be viewed by visiting
www.leeparks.org/lightning.
Remember - When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!
A PSA from Lee County Parks & Recreation
This mahogany tree at Lakes Park was struck by lightning during
a recent thunderstorm.
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 credit: Susan Evans; The Daily Artisan )
A Huge thank you to everyone who stopped by and supported Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation by buying our plants and crafts! We’re excited to let you know we'll be back on October 7th, 2026, with new crafts & beautiful plants! Have a great summer!🌞
🚂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 Holidays, Friday, June 19th, for Juneteenth, and 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
Mornings at Lakes Park are truly beautiful. Moments like these highlight just how incredible the wildlife here can be.
(Photo credit: Susan Evans;
The Daily Artisan
)
Garden News!
📚 StoryTime! Will be back in October!📚
We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined Story Time this season!
Our last Story Time was on May 21st, but don't worry,
we'll return on Thursday, October 1st, 2026.
Your presence made this year special, and we can't wait to see you again!
May Garden News
Greeting Gardeners,
We hope you are enjoying the last days of cool weather. It is heating up quickly, and summer will be upon us soon. Make sure you have decided on what to do with your bed over the summer.
For many years, we have had the privilege of composting within our garden. Our garden waste and greens were used to create rich soil. We would like to thank our Compost Committee leaders, Dr. Warren Johnson and Ron Swanson, for doing a fantastic job. At first, rich soil was difficult to obtain. We really needed the compost to enhance our dirt. Over the years, nurseries have improved their soil, and the product we get at the beginning of the season is much better. With this development, we no longer need the compost. It is a lot of work to collect, cut, water, and create the compost. We have decided to retire the Compost Committee. Once again, we want to thank them for all their hard work!
We had a very successful Community Cooperative donation year. We gave over 1444 pounds of boxed and canned goods, and garden produce donations this season. It is a new record! Thanks to all of our gardeners who helped and donated. Betsy is still volunteering at the food pantry and welcomes donations next week. If you have produce or goods you would like to still donate, please email Betsy at wildflowergreen22@gmail.com
Our Steering Committee is already looking at next season.
On or about September 1st, renewal contracts will be sent out. It is important that we have your current email and phone information. All contracts will be sent out via email. We need to have the signed contracts and paid fees in by September 15th. All beds not renewed and paid for by that time will be given up and put into the lottery for any new gardeners wanting a bed. We don't want to lose anyone. So please mark September 1st on your calendar and look for the renewal email. Thanks
Credit: Lakes Park Community Garden Newsletter
💐 Fragrance Garden & Succulent Garden 💐
The Fragrance Garden is alive with a captivating blend of floral and earthy scents, enveloping visitors in a truly sensory experience.
Amorphophallus paeoniifolius, commonly called elephant foot yam, has begun to bloom behind the white gazebo in the fragrance garden.
They are labeled and just below the pink trumpet tree!
When blooming, it often gives off an odor like rotting meat!
The succulent garden is at its peak—plump rosettes glowing with sun, and delicate blooms rising in quiet bursts of color.
After patient care, it’s a moment every gardener waits for, when the garden feels alive and thriving.
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
