FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                   

Contact:      John Yarbrough, Lee County Parks & Recreation
                    (941) 461-7410 or Debbie Derums, 338-3288

BUCKINGHAM COMMUNITY PARK PLAYGROUND
NEWEST IN PARK SYSTEM

FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 30, 2002) – Lee County Parks & Recreation will officially open its newest playground – at Buckingham Community Park – at a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 11 a.m. 

The park is located just east of Lee County’s Resource Recovery Plant on Buckingham Road after Buckingham Road splits from State Road 82 east of Interstate 75.  County Commissioner John Albion will act as master of ceremonies. 

The $260,000 facility (including amenities) is funded through a Florida Recreation Development Assistance Grant of $132,000 and matching funds from Lee County.  The facility includes: 

§         Traditional playground with swings, track ride, climbers and slides for children ages five to 12. 

§         Three BOLDR Sport Climbing Systems: a TrainR climbing wall (all ages); a “Bridge Over Peaceful Water” GeoSculpt (ages three to 10); and a “Holding Gaia” (pronounced GUY-a) GeoSculpt (ages 10 and up).  The park is one of only three in the United States to have the “Holding Gaia” GeoSculpt. 

§         A 30-foot by 44-foot shelter in which to cool down. 

The view examples of the equipment, visit BOLDR’s web site at www.boldr.com. 

To increase the safety of the children while they play, the playground has engineered wood fiber floorings designed to provide a soft cushion against falls.  Additionally, this wood fiber is handicap accessible. 

The Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program provides funding to local governments to acquire and/or develop land for public outdoor recreation.  By the time all the amenities are completed, the Board of Lee County Lee County Commissioners will have matched the state grant with a combination of funds and in-kind services. 

The playground equipment adds to an already comprehensive recreational program at Buckingham Community Park, which has three football fields, four baseball fields, concession buildings, restrooms and a picnic area and serves as home to the Buckingham Little League and Riverdale Wildcats Pop Warner Football League.  In November, the county opened Barkingham Dog Park at the facility, which has fenced and unfenced areas for dogs to be walked leashed or run unleashed.  Currently, 35 of the 135 acres at the park have been developed.  Its rural setting offers abundant wildlife, including eagles, wood storks, wild hogs, alligators, bobcats, otters and other native inhabitants.