FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                   

Contact:            John Yarbrough or Gary Porter, Parks & Recreation

(941) 338-3300

 

                       

NEW PLAYGROUND OPENS AT LAKES PARK

 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 17, 2000) – Lee County has opened a new playground area at Lakes Regional Park that offers children of all ages traditional equipment as well as some “new age” play structures.

 

The $100,000 facility replaces a smaller playground that was located near the Train Village station and boardwalk/concession area.  Lakes Regional Park is located at 7330 Gladiolus Drive, between U.S. 41 and Summerlin Road.

 

The new playground includes a “climbing boulder,” “dinosaur stairs,” and “Bigfoot slide.”  A wavy, horizontal ladder will be quite a challenge for youngsters who just want to “hang around.”  Swings, miniature backhoe diggers and a spiral slide provide fun in the traditional fashion.

 

The play structures and fall surfaces also are constructed to allow access and play opportunities for physically challenged individuals, and the area is lighted for use during those special times when the park is open after dusk for events such as the Halloween Express and Santa’s Workshop railroad rides.

 

The county also is planning a new water playground for the park, which should open near the beach sometime this fall.  The water playground will have a soft, textured rubber surface and streams of water will shoot from the surface throughout the area.  It also will have play structures in the shapes of animals that are seen in a Cypress Swamp.

 

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.