I have to go back in time here, between the years of 1992 and 2000 to remember the great times I had, spending almost every day at Patch Reef Park, either coaching my son in the Park District Football league, The Boca Jets, or cheering on my wonderful cheerleader daughter who spent her years at this field every day after school and BOTH playing or cheerleading on Saturdays for the Jets. It was a wonderful program back then and everything was run through what is now the Park District office located at the James A.Rutherford Community Center. That is about ALL I remember about Patch Reef Park back then.
Moving ahead to last week, 2016, I decided to take my Fit Bit challenge walks to Patch Reef Park which is only down the road to my office to get some serenity and change of atmosphere. Well, I got a lot more than that when I discovered what this wonderful park has to offer. I ended up not just walking but exploring everything they have now to offer. I was lead down a walking/running/biking trail that I never knew existed which took me around the whole park. It was beautiful, set between all the trees, quiet and shady. It also had updated exercise stations along the trail such as a Balance Beam, Step Ups, chin up and push up bars, just about every station great to stop and work on all your body parts. Also, in this serine part of the park were picnic shelters with wooden benches and one or two BBQ grills if you want to have an outdoor BBQ with your family or friends. I must mention that these were very well kept and not dirty shelters like we see sometimes at some of the parks in Florida. Their park maintenance workers were everywhere, as I was walking, in their vehicles working hard. As I kept walking I was amazed to see a tennis complex which is now called the Patch Reef Park Tennis Center which has 17 lighted courts, 4 practice walls, pro shop, lockers and showers, and ball machines to rent. It is a whole Tennis Complex within itself I never knew was even here. You can become a member if you want to get 2 day advance reservations and the rates are really reasonable. They offer lessons, clinics and sponsor tournaments.
Keep in mind all these amenities are all nestled throughout the park within a lush environment, surrounded by trees. Of course the parking lots in front of these separate amenities feed off the main drive entrance off Yamato Rd.
As always, Patch Reef Park is a major venue for the young football, soccer and lacrosse programs in Palm Beach County. The park has 2 full size football fields, with announcer and scoreboard booths and large bleacher sections for the home field teams as well as smaller bleacher sections across the field for the visiting teams. The park has separate soccer and lacrosse practice areas. Just as impressive is the number of baseball/softball fields in this park and how incredibly well THESE are kept up by the park maintenance workers. I do not remember how many fields they have but I believe I must have seen 4 fields, 2 on each side of the built in refreshment stand.
Speaking of refreshment stands, there are 2 nice size buildings that house the refreshment stand and bathrooms that sit right along the sports fields and when there are official games, they are open for all the spectators. I did go into the bathrooms, and they were really clean. The refreshment stands, bathrooms and cement walkways surround the main fields and they are laid out spaciously on so much property, it is really a great park to just walk and see these surroundings.
Across the parking lot from the fields , there are 3 full size basketball courts, nicely painted and accessible right from the main parking lot.
What is a great park without a playground for the kids? This park has an area called Pirates Cove with colorful slides swings and bars all centered around a Pirate Ship theme. So creative and colorful, this would be my favorite playground for sure if I was a kid again. If I was on the fence as to where to play here, the large water canon and rotating water showers that relieve the heat would be my favorite. Both centered around a "pirate ship" sitting structure.
I did go in to the James A. Rutherford Community Center as I was helping an older lady bring in all her supplies she was carrying in for some kind of meeting she was having at the center. This was the biggest change I found out transpired since 2000. The James A. Rutherford Community Center is the major 'HUB' for all of Greater Boca Raton's activities. It is where you get Beach Parking, Boat launching, and Dog park and Dog beach permits. Sign up for swimming lessons, academic tutoring, educational programs, sports programs, the list goes on. Pick up a copy of "The Recreator" at the Community Center to see the list off all Boca has to offer.
If I had a family with young children, Patch Reef Park would definitely be part of my consideration for moving to Boca Raton. read more