A Year's Worth Of Success

No park benefited more from the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District's 2025 accomplishments than Patch Reef, which received two soon-to-be iconic features.

October saw the highly anticipated opening of Patch Reef's 18-court covered pickleball complex, bringing one of the finest public pickleball facilities in the state to Boca Raton.

A few months earlier, Patch Reef's all-inclusive playground opened, allowing children of all abilities to play and laugh side-by-side like never before.

Patch Reef's baseball facilities also received an upgrade with the addition of new bullpen mounds and batting stations.

“We already knew that Patch Reef was an amazing park,” District Chair Erin Wright said. “With these new features, it's easily one of the most impressive parks in Florida.”

Patch Reef wasn't the only park to enjoy new features. Crews also began working to create North Park in the Boca Teeca section of Boca Raton. In June Commissioners attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Boca Paddle indoor pickleball and padel facility being built on the site.

And in August they enjoyed another ribbon cutting ceremony, opening the new Traffic Garden at North Park.

But the biggest news regarding North Park occurred away from the park. In July District Commissioners voted to retire the North Park debt early, allowing development on the park's west side to move ahead earlier than expected. 

Like Patch Reef, Sugar Sand's baseball facilities received an upgrade with the addition of bullpens and batting stations. The community center and the field house at Sugar Sand both received new roofs, as did the facilities at the District-funded Gumbo Limbo Nature Center. Gumbo Limbo also enjoyed an upgraded boardwalk, and the Boca Raton Swim Center had its pool resurfaced.

The City of Boca Raton recognized the hard work and accomplishments of current and past Commissioners by presenting the District with the key to the city during a March ceremony, part of the city's centennial celebration.

District Commissions intend to carry the momentum gained in 2025 into next year. Construction crews have already started rebuilding Patch Reef's tennis courts and outdoor pickleball courts. Further development of North Park is expected. Patch Reef's community center and its Paddle and Racquet Club pro-shop are also scheduled for renovation.

“We accomplished a lot in 2025,” Commissioner Craig Ehrnst said. “We intend to apply the same focus and energy to all of our projects in 2026.”