FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    Gary Porter, Lee County Parks & Recreation
                (941) 461-7449

FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 16, 2001) – Lee County has opened a new 3,000-square-foot "water playground" at Lakes Regional Park that will provide splashing and cooling fun for children and adults on hot South Florida days. The park is located at 7330 Gladiolus Drive, between U.S. 41 and Summerlin Road.

The playground will open Thursday (May 17) after being closed today to place carpeting around it. It has been running intermittently since Sunday. Construction began last fall.

The $150,000 water playground is next to the swimming beach on the southwest side of the park. It has a "Florida Cypress swamp" theme with a soft, rubber-like surface and a number of squirting, spraying and splashing features in the shapes of frogs, snakes, birds and other animals.

The water itself is maintained and treated using the same high standards that govern public swimming pools. Although there will not be any standing water, large pumps, computer-controlled valves and an underground circulation system will keep the constant flow of clean, cool water entertaining the visitors to the playground.

The water feature playground will be open year round, weather permitting, and there is no admission fee other than the daily parking fee of 75-cents per hour or $3 for the day. Bring your swimming suit and join the fun! Call 461-7400 for more information. For a week or so park staff may have to close the feature intermittently throughout the day until the chlorine balance in the system is fine-tuned.

Lakes Park opened in 1984 and attracts an average of 175,000 visitors a year with some years as high as 250,000 people. The 279-acre facility includes 158 acres of fresh water lakes for fishing, canoeing and swimming (the swimming area opens Memorial Day and closes Labor Day). The park also has: 2-1/2 miles of paved pathways for jogging, biking, rollerblading and walking; picnic pavilions, amphitheater, and lodge with complete kitchen; and playgrounds, miniature railroad, train village and fragrance garden. Paddle boats, canoes and bicycles are available for rent.

In May 2000, the county opened a new $100,000 playground at the park near the Train Village station and boardwalk/concession area. The playground includes a "climbing boulder," "dinosaur stairs," "Bigfoot slide," swings, miniature backhoe digger and a spiral slide.

Lee County’s Parks & Recreation Department maintains and operates 3,500 acres of developed park land, 14 centers, 10 pools, five boat ramps, three Gulf beach parks, one lakefront beach, 76 beach accesses, 60 tennis courts, 73 ballfields, and 13 preserves. The department’s fiscal year 2001 operating budget is $15.1 million.