About Us

Our Mission

Our Mission is to provide safe, clean and functional Parks & Recreation facilities. To provide programs and services that add to the quality of life for all Lee County residents and visitors. To enhance tourism through special events and attractions. We are committed to fulfilling this mission through visionary leadership, individual dedication and the trustworthy use of available resources.

Our Vision

Lee County Parks & Recreation...the Natural Place to Learn and Play. 

Our History

Lee County Parks & Recreation initially organized in the early 1970s. Before that time, there were very few parks maintained and almost no programming provided. The department began with the completion of four community swimming pools, three of which started on the School District of Lee County’s property. These three pools began a longstanding relationship between Parks & Recreation and the School District. Our goal is to maximize our combined resources to provide the residents of Lee County with the best possible facilities and programs with the least possible expenditure of public funds. For more than 40 years, it has been an enriching relationship for all parties, especially for the residents of Lee County.

From our meager beginnings over a quarter of a century ago we have grown dramatically. We now manage more than 3,500 acres of developed parkland and provide for hundreds of programs throughout the County. This growth reflects the 63 percent population growth experienced by Lee County in the last decade alone. We serve the community by providing health, inspiration and recreation opportunities through quality programming, facilities, and community events. The department also furthers the preservation and enhancement of the environment through Conservation 20/20 preserves, open spaces, and natural habitat areas.

Lee County Parks & Recreation oversees four recreation centers, ten community centers, community parks, Conservation 20/20 lands, greenways, the Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail, four year-round pools, seven boat ramps, sports complexes (including the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins spring training facilities), dog-friendly parks, and natural Gulf-of-Mexico beach access.

ADA Accommodations and Policies

Parks ADA Accessible Amenities Search

Lee County ADA Notice

Commitment to Accessibility Inclusion Statement 

Lee County Parks & Recreation is dedicated to fostering inclusive and welcoming spaces where individuals of all abilities can fully participate in and enjoy our parks, facilities, and programs. We embrace diversity and are committed to ensuring that everyone can explore, connect, and experience all that we offer. In alignment with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), we are committed to providing accessible programs and services, removing barriers, and offering reasonable accommodations to support meaningful participation for all.

ADA Inquiry Procedure

Lee County Parks & Recreation will make all reasonable modifications to policies and procedures to ensure that our customers have an equal opportunity to enjoy all of its programs, services and activities.

Anyone who requires an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication, or a modification of policies or procedures to participate in a County program, service or activity, should contact Christin Carson Bomtempo at (239) 533-7275, Florida Relay Service 711, or email ParksADA@leegov.com, as soon as possible but no later than five (5) business days before the scheduled event.

The ADA does not require Lee County Parks & Recreation to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services or impose an undue financial or administrative burden.

Complaints that a program, service or activity of Lee County is not accessible to persons with disabilities should be directed to contact Dr. Ranice Monroe at (239) 533-0255, Florida Relay Service 711, or ADA Requests.

Lee County will not place a surcharge on a particular individual with a disability or any group of individuals with disabilities to cover the cost of providing auxiliary aids/services or reasonable modifications of policy.

National Accreditation (CAPRA)

CAPRA-accredited

The Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) sets standards for national accreditation to provide a reliable assessment tool for park and recreation agencies. CAPRA accreditation assures policymakers, taxpayers, staff and the general public that a park and recreation agency has established benchmarks delivering a high level of quality through independent evaluation. 

Lee County Parks & Recreation received CAPRA Accreditation in 2001. We were one of the first 35 agencies in the nation to achieve accreditation.  Reaccreditation is every five years.  In 2006, 2011 and 2016, we underwent the rigorous reaccreditation process and met CAPRA standards each time.  We hold ourselves to very high standards and are proud of our commitment of excellence to the residents of Lee County. 

What's the accreditation process?

Achieving accreditation means thoroughly assessing the department’s policies, practices, procedures, programs, and facilities.  Lee County Parks & Recreation evaluates 154 internal standards.  We complete a self-assessment which we submit to the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA).  NRPA then assigns an expert team of park and recreation professionals to visit and evaluate our Department on those 154 standards.  This evaluation team provides an objective report to the CAPRA board. The board then reviews the Department's self-assessment and the expert team's report. 

What does our accreditation mean to you?

Accreditation requires extensive staff involvement and evaluation at all levels of our public service. The accreditation process resulted in a living lifecycle of self-assessment of our facilities and services.  We continually review policy, procedure, and technique so that we may adopt best practices across the Department.  The residents of Lee County are the ultimate benefactors of this commitment to excellence, demonstrated through our high-quality facilities, programs, and services. Visit www.nrpa.org for more information about national accreditation.

Lee County Parks & Recreation Accreditation Documents

2006 Self Assessment Workbook

2011 Self Assessment Workbook

2016 Self Assessment Workbook

2024 Self Assessment Workbook

Ranger Unit

Rangers Protect Park Visitors & Natural Resources

Lee County Parks & Recreation Rangers ensure the safety of park visitors and protect the natural resources of Lee County's complex ecosystems and parklands. If you’ve visited a Lee County park lately, chances are you’ve met one of our rangers. The Rangers are considered “Ambassadors of the Park” and provide visitors with information regarding park activities and offer various educational programs, such as nature walks, wildlife programs, and classroom presentations.

The sixteen-member staff patrols more than 4,000 acres of developed parks, beaches, preserves, boat ramps, and community centers. The Ranger Unit is also responsible for patrolling our park preserves that total more than thirty-thousand acres. Our rangers patrol on foot, in trucks, by ATV, by bicycle, and sometimes by powerboat or kayak.  

The Ranger Unit enforces park rules and Lee County regulations, Lee County Ordinance 18-12 and Lee County Ordinance 18-27. For reference, see the Clerk of Court Codified Ordinance . 

Rangers Unit Priorities

Regulation: The Rangers’ first objective is park visitor safety and ensuring compliance in park regulations in a positive, educational manner.

Education: Rangers provide natural resource education programs for park visitors of all ages at Lee County sites and school-aged children at school sites.

Code enforcement: Park rangers are required to obtain Code Enforcement Certification and follow the Standards of Ethics for Code Enforcement Officials and Courtroom Procedures and Presentations. They work closely with local law enforcement like the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Florida Fish and Wildlife.

Geocaching in the Parks!

Lee County parks are home to several geocaching sites. Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location.

The Ranger Unit must first approve a geocache in a Lee County Parks & Recreation facility.Download the Geocaching Permit and email it to the Ranger Unit or by mail to the administration office at Terry Park, 3410 Palm Beach Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33916. 

Ranger Unit Supervisor Contact:


Chad Roy

Matt Rudd

​239-699-9203

​239-533-7275

CRoy@leegov.com

MRudd@leegov.com


Community Partners

Boards & Foundations

  • Aquatics Advisory Committee
  • Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee
  • Bird Patrol
  • Conservation Lands Acquisition
  • Friends of Boca Grande
  • Friends of Matanzas Pass Preserve
  • Friends of Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
  • Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation
  • Lee County Community Tennis Association
  • Lehigh Acres Senior Citizen Center
  • Management Subcommittee of the Conservation Lands Acquisition & Stewardship Advisory Committee (CLASAC)
  • Metropolitan Planning Organization
  • Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee
  • Railroad Museum of South Florida - Lakes Park

Partner Organizations

  • FGCU Aquatic Center
  • Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA)
  • Florida Southwestern State College
  • Florida Sports Foundation
  • Lee County Sports Housing
  • Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)
  • School District of Lee County
  • Southwest Florida Baseball
  • Southwest Florida Welcome Guide-Map
  • Special Olympics Florida
  • Train Village At Lakes Park
  • UF/IFAS Lee County Extension

Youth Leagues

Youth Baseball
  • Alva Little League - Alva
  • Buckingham Youth Baseball - Buckingham
  • Fort Myers American Youth Baseball & Softball - Fort Myers
  • Hancock American Youth Baseball - Hancock
  • Jason Verdow Memorial Park - Cape Coral
  • Lehigh Acres Little League - Lehigh Acres
  • North Fort Myers Babe Ruth League - North Fort Myers
  • Pine Island Youth Baseball League - Pine Island
  • San Carlos Youth Baseball and Softball League - Three Oaks Park
  • South Fort Myers Little League - South Fort Myers
  • South Fort Myers Youth Baseball - Rutenberg

Youth Football & Cheerleading

  • Cypress Lake Hornets - Rutenberg
  • Estero Mustangs - Estero
  • Fort Myers Fellowship Lions - Brooks
  • Gateway Flag Football - Gateway
  • Lehigh Acres Raiders - Lehigh Acres
  • North Fort Myers Knights - North Fort Myers
  • Riverdale Wildcats - Buckingham
Youth Soccer
  • Florida Youth Soccer Association
  • Fort Myers Beach Soccer - Fort Myers Beach
  • Gateway Soccer Association - Fort Myers
  • Lee County Strikers - Fort Myers
  • Lehigh Acres Soccer Club - Lehigh Acres
  • North Fort Myers Soccer Club - North Fort Myers
  • San Carlos Park Soccer Club - Three Oaks

Other Youth Sports

  • Competitive Swimming - North Fort Myers
  • Fort Myers Track Club, Inc. - Various Sites
  • Lee County Youth Lacrosse - Various Sites
  • Swim Florida - Various Sites
  • YMCA - Various Sites

Adult Leagues

  • AAU Baseball
  • AAU Softball
  • Edison Sailing Center
  • Fort Myers Firecats
  • Florida Mudcutters Mountain Bike Club
  • Gorilla Lacrosse Club
  • Gulf Coast Swim Team
  • Latin American Soccer League
  • Lee County Archers
  • Lee County Community Tennis Association (LCCTA)
  • Lee County Shuffleboard Club
  • Pan American Soccer League
  • Roy Hobbs Baseball
  • Ultimate Frisbee Club

Adaptive Sports

  • Adapted Sailing Program
  • C.A.S.T. For Kids
  • Edison Sailing Center
  • Eastern Amputee Golf Association
  • Florida Disabled Outdoors Association
  • Florida Tri-County Challenged Athletes Association Baseball
    • Adult Programs available in Charlotte County, Hendry County, Lee & Collier County
  • National Amputee Golf
  • Physically Challenged Golf Association
  • Special Equestrians
  • Strokers Golf Club
  • TOPSoccer
  • Tri-County Challenger Little League Program
  • United States Golf Association
  • Wheelchair Basketball
  • Wheelchair Rugby
  • Wheelchair Tennis




Directors

Mack Young Kathy Loomis  
Director
Deputy Director
 


Managers

Christie Tvardek Colleen Via Tim Gard Christine Bailey
North District
East District
South District
West District

Lisa Weaver Trever Snearley Jason Lamey Susan Laco
Strategic Operations
Countywide Services
Planning
Fiscal

Josh Brooks Vacant Keith Blasingim Makenzie Vance
JetBlue Park
Vacant
Terry Park and Player Development Complex
Lee Health Sports Complex
Mike Greenwell Regional Park
Lee County Civic Center Complex
   


Full LCPR Staff Directory

Advisory Committees

Employee Log In
Search
Main
Menu
Section
Navigation