September 2025 Newsletter
Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation
🌻September 2025 🌻
Newsletter
The Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation's Mission is to enhance & enrich the beauty and experience of Lakes Park.
Dear Friends of Lakes Park,
Wishing you all a happy Labor Day Holiday. Hopefully, the rain will hold out for a little while, and you can celebrate in the park.
As a kid in New York, Labor Day meant the end of Summer, back to school, and no more wearing white shoes!! (Wouldn’t want to make a fashion faux pas) I remember having to keep my white shoes polished with that awful roll-on white polish. Scuffed white shoes were absolutely unacceptable.
Here in Florida, Labor Day probably just means another month of drenching rains and watching the forecast as the hurricanes build up. Let’s all say a collective prayer that we avoid any major storms this year. We are still recovering from Ian and working to restore the park's amenities. Check out the news below about work in the park.
And don’t forget about Scarecrows in the park. If you're a family, school, or business, the deadline is around the corner for getting your application in to build a Scarecrow, so do it now.
For the Board of Directors, September marks the time of the Annual Meeting, where we elect our officers and organize our business for the upcoming year. I am happy to say our Board has 15 outstanding, hard-working, and Dedicated Members. We have an Advisory Board that helps as needed and remains attentive. Our Partnership with Amavida is stronger than ever, and their support is greatly appreciated. Our volunteers are numerous, and thanks to their help, along with the dedicated staff, Lakes Park looks amazing. New and exciting projects are on their way.
So…stay with us, come to the park and enjoy the activities, volunteer and donate to help us help you enjoy our beautiful and unique Lakes Park.
Barbara Manzo
President LPEF
barbara.manzo@lakespark.org
239-229-0387
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!
Join in the fun and build a scarecrow with your family (co-workers)
Deadline: September 25th
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.
Use this QR Code to get to Scarecrows in the Park FAST!!!
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
What's Under Construction in the Park?
SplashPads!
Fort Myers, FL, Aug. 15, 2025 – Lee County Parks & Recreation is pleased to announce continued progress on the replacement of the splash pads at Lakes Regional Park and asks park patrons to be aware of some upcoming temporary path closures.
The Park, located at 7330 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers, suffered extreme damage during Hurricane Ian, including the destruction of the splash pads. Many amenities have been paired, rebuilt, and reopened since the storm. Work on the splash pads is part of the restoration process. As part of the project, a temporary fence for the staging area has been installed, followed by demolition of the existing hurricane-damaged splash pads on Wednesday, Aug. 20. Patrons are asked to follow staff instructions and posted signs while work is underway. For safety purposes, portions of nearby walking paths will be temporarily closed during the construction period.
The $2.6 million project, funded through the Florida Division of Emergency Management Legislative Appropriations Program Fund, includes the demolition and removal of damaged equipment and concrete, as well as the construction of new splash pads. The design-build contract with Gulfpoint Construction Company Inc. will deliver new concrete pads, plumbing fixtures, electrical components, shade structures, water features, signage, and fencing. Construction is expected to be completed by summer 2026, weather permitting.
In the meantime, residents and visitors who want to enjoy a county splash pad can visit Veterans Park, located at 55 Homestead Road South, Lehigh Acres, which is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, weather permitting.
In addition, Lee County Parks & Recreation operates four Community Pools:
- San Carlos Community Pool, 8208 Sanibel Blvd., Fort Myers
- Lehigh Acres Community Pool, 1400 W. Fifth St., Lehigh Acres
- Pine Island Community Pool, 5675 Sesame Drive, Pine Island
- North Fort Myers Community Pool, 5170 Orange Grove Blvd., North Fort Myers
- Visit www.leegov.com/parks/pools for hours of operation
To stay up to date on hurricane repairs as well as Lee County Parks & Recreation capital projects and significant maintenance efforts, view the Parks Project Information Tool at www.leeparks.org.
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 Railroad Museum and Train Village make an excellent destination for a family outing!
🚆 Train Operating Hours 🚆
Sat-Sun 10 am-4 pm
From now until September 30th, we will only be open on Weekends and the Labor Day Holiday.
As of October 1st, we will return to our regular schedule: Monday through Friday, 10 am-2 pm, and Saturday & Sunday, 10 am-4 pm.
Halloween Express Starts October 10th thru 31st, 2025
10 am to 2 pm and 6 pm-9 pm
Would you like to volunteer?
www.rrmsf.org/volunteer
🦅 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.
🌴 GARDEN NEWS 🌴
Save The Date!
Storytime is Coming Soon!
As you walk through The Children's Garden, don’t miss the enchanting murals that await you—each one tells a story and adds to the magic of your visit!
Murals are courtesy of The Fort Myers Mural Society.
Meet Alex the Monkey, the cheerful guardian of the Banana Forest! Swinging through the trees and enjoying tasty snacks, Alex brings joy to all who visit. Keep your bananas close—you never know when Alex might surprise you with some fun!
🌻 Community Garden🌻
Greetings Gardeners,
Another season is about to begin, and we are excited. The Steering Committee hopes you have had a wonderful summer. The 2025-2026 Renewals will be sent out on September 1st. Please look for them in your email inbox and check your Spam folder if you don't see them. It is very important that we have your updated information. Let us know if your email address has changed, as this is where the renewal contract will be sent. You will have until September 30 to submit the contract and payment. Do not wait until the last day, as problems can arise, and you may be without a bed if we do not receive it in time.
There is a long list of people waiting for the opportunity to get one of our beds. Invitations will be sent out on October 1st. If you do not wish to renew, it is important that you let us know. You can reply to this email or email Connie at conniespeck@lakespark.org
We look forward to seeing you in the garden and to the weather cooling off a bit. It will be a few months before we get our hands dirty, but it's worth the wait.
The Steering committee meets once a month. If you have any suggestions or concerns, email Connie at communitygarden@lakespark.org
Nancy Sanders and Betsy Woolf, despite the rain, planted over 400 vegetable seeds. The seeds include kale, Sweet Million Tomatoes, big tomatoes, giant tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, collards, eggplant, and sweet and hot peppers. They are growing the veggie babies to sell to the Community Gardeners and the public on October 4th. They really appreciate the new potting shed expertly built by Randy and Connie Speck. Dave is helping get the trays of seeds into the shed.
💐 Fragrance Garden & Succulent Garden 💐
🌹🌹 Rose Garden 🌹🌹
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
Please note that our Bench Dedication Program has been paused until further notice.
Lakes Park Tid-Bits
“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.
Throughout the year, the Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation hosts community events designed to raise awareness and funds to support enhancements to Lakes Park.
SCARECROWS in the PARK – a part of the Lakes Park Fall Festival each October. Sponsorships are available, and contestants compete for prizes in two competitions: VIP Judged and The People’s Choice.
- THE LAKES PARK FARMERS MARKET – runs seasonally on Wednesday mornings from October through April.
- PLANT SALES – Support the Botanic Garden! Visit us at the Farmers Market on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays from October through April.
Copyright © 2024 Lakes Park, All rights reserved.
Our mailing address is:
PO Box 61076 Ft. Myers, FL, 33906
239.533.7578
