Flagship Boys & Girls Club location adds outdoor playground
The Floridant/10307533

FORT MYERS, Fla. - Floridant -- Hundreds of children in Fort Myers now have access to a new, purpose-built playground designed to support healthy activity, social development and joyful experiences.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County dedicated the spacious new playground on June 10 at Park Meadows Community Club, a center currently undergoing renovations to become the organization's first true flagship location. Playground equipment includes multiple slides, climbers, ladders, rings and accessories designed to promote social interaction while building endurance, strength, agility, balance and footwork. The entire outdoor space was freshly landscaped with sod and mulch.

"This gift isn't just about today... it's about 10 years from now, 20 years from now," said Denise Gergley, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County. "Thousands of kids are going to play on this playground, which is incredible."

The cost of the new playground – estimated at $127,000 – was covered by sponsor GL Homes, which selected Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County as the recipient of its 2025 Passion for Playgrounds initiative. Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County is the first organization on Florida's west coast that the Florida homebuilder has selected as a Passion for Playgrounds recipient since the initiative began in 2017. GL Homes also serves as the title sponsor of Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County's Annual Gift Drive and sponsors an Adopt-a-Club Holiday Party for children and teens.

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"This really is a labor of love for GL Homes and we want to bless this playground and all of the many hundreds, if not thousands, of children in years to come who will be playing on this playground," Sarah Alsofrom, vice president of community relations for GL Homes, said before reciting a playground-inspired poem entitled "Where Laughter Grows."

At the June 10 dedication, GL Homes representatives and community leaders joined Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County's board of directors and club members for a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Then, youth had their first opportunities to try out the new playground and sports equipment.

Boys & Girls Clubs programs are designed for youth ages six through 18 and focus on five core areas: education and career, service and leadership, health and wellness, the arts, and sports and recreation.

Renovation plans for the Park Meadows Community Club include enclosed activity centers, a teen center, gathering hall, innovation lab, culinary center, youth playground, community conference room, game room, academic center, health and wellness center, "big dreams hub," creative corner and sports field. Additional corporate sponsorship opportunities are available, as well as tiered sponsor levels with memberships starting at $10,000 to join the Friend Club, Benefactor Club, Investor Club and Visionary Club. Additional information about the Park Meadows Capital Campaign is available at bgclee.org/park-meadows-campaign.

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