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Lakes Regional Park facts for kids

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Lakes Regional Park
Lakes Park entrance.JPG
Type Regional (Lee County, Florida)
Location Fort Myers, Florida
Area 279 acres (113 ha)
Created 1984
Operated by Lee County Department of Parks and Recreation
Status Open

Lakes Regional Park, often called Lakes Park, is a super fun public park in Fort Myers, Florida. It's a huge place, covering 279 acres, which is like 200 football fields! The park opened on April 21, 1984. It's managed by the Lee County Department of Parks and Recreation.

The park is famous for its 158 acres of freshwater lakes. These lakes aren't natural; they were made when a rock mine operated here in the 1960s. Lakes Park is also part of the Great Florida Birding Trail, a special path for birdwatchers. It's also on Lee County's bike route called the Tour de Parks.

What Can You Do at Lakes Park?

Lakes Park is a great place to see all sorts of animals, especially birds! You can walk or bike on about 2.5 miles of trails that go along the lakes. There's even a cool boardwalk that takes you right over the water.

The park also has fun playgrounds for kids. There's a big open field where you can play games. Don't miss the fragrance garden, which has special areas for herbs, butterflies, and even cacti!

All Aboard! The Train Village

One of the most exciting parts of Lakes Park is the Lakes Park & Gulf Railroad. This is a miniature train that takes you on a 15-minute ride through the park. It's a really fun way to see the sights!

The train leaves from the Railroad Museum of South Florida's Train Village. At the Train Village, you'll find the museum, a playground, and even a real, full-sized historic train and caboose on display. Over 300,000 people have ridden the miniature train since it started in 1994!

The Train Village remembers the old Seaboard Air Line Railroad. A part of their tracks used to run right through where Lakes Park is now, from the 1920s until 1952. Later, some of these tracks were used by another railroad to help the rock mine that created the park's lakes.

Park Pictures

  • Lakes Park Boardwalk

    The Boardwalk over the lakes

  • Lakes Park field

    A big field for playing games

  • Lakes Park Fragrance garden

    The entrance to the beautiful Fragrance Garden

  • Lakes Park Train Village

    The Train Village and where you get on the miniature train

  • Lakes Park Train Village 2021

    Another view of the Train Village and the train loading area

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