FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Barbara Manzo, Lee Parks & Recreation
              (239) 461-7412

LAKES PARK TO REOPEN WEEKENDS ONLY AFTER HURRICANE

FORT MYERS, Fla. (November 24, 2004) - Closed since Hurricane Charley, Lakes Regional Park will reopen weekends only starting this week. Because of the holiday weekend, the park will be open Thursday, November 25 through Sunday, November 28, then weekends only after that.

Additionally, only the front part of the park will reopen (basically the beach area and its pavilions and water playground, including parking lots 1 and 2) as restoration work continues in most of the other portions of the park. The children's playground, train and walking/riding trails will not reopen immediately.

Lakes Park was damaged extensively during Hurricane Charley. Nearly $750,000 of cleanup, repairs and restoration have been ongoing since the hurricane.

The Plan is for Lee County Parks and Recreation to continue opening sections of the park as they are cleared and restored to a condition safe for public use.

The following areas and amenities will be open WEEKENDS ONLY:

• Parking Lots 1 and 2 on the south side of the park.
• Shelters: A1, A2, A3 , A4, D1, B1 (Please note-until the park opens completely shelters will not be reserved and are on a first come, first serve basis only).
• The bocce ball, volleyball court, rock wall and water features located in the beach area.
• The restrooms located at the beach.
• The boat launch (by permit only/no gas engines).

Please be aware that cleanup and restoration work is continuing in closed sections of the park. The public is not allowed in areas other than the ones listed above.

The 280-acre Lakes Park, which opened in April 1984, is considered by many to have been the catalyst for transforming what was then the county's small Parks & Recreation Department into the nationally recognized system it is today with many regional parks and thousands of acres of managed preserves.

Lakes Park attracts up to 500,000 visitors a year. It has 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: a water playground; 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.