Combining Fun With Safety, Traffic Garden Opens

North Park's Traffic Garden is officially open to entertain and educate young Boca Raton bicyclists.

Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District Commissioners, several members of the Boca Raton City Council and other dignitaries celebrated the opening of North Park's newest feature on Thursday morning with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

“I think that the city of Boca Raton needed this,” District Commissioner Suzi Vogelgesang said. “Now we have a way to educate the younger people so that they do the right thing on their bicycles. I think it's going to be a fun thing. As soon as my grandson can get to Boca I'm going to bring him out here.”

Located on Jeffrey St. west of NW 2nd Ave in the Boca Teeca section of Boca Raton, the Traffic Garden offers children an entertaining opportunity to learn bicycle and road safety in a visually appealing area free of motorized vehicles.

“I think residents for the future will really enjoy it,” District Commissioner Craig Ehrnst said. “They'll remember this. Kids will make a memory here. That is very important.”

Crews began painting the Traffic Garden in mid-July on pavement that had previously been tennis courts. The Traffic Garden enjoyed a soft opening in August and it quickly became a family favorite.

Along with painted lanes that serve as “streets,” the Traffic Garden includes pint-sized stop, yield and one way signs to familiarize children with traffic rules in a visually appealing area free of cars.

“It's more than just asphalt and paint,” Boca Raton Deputy Mayor Fran Nachlas said during her address prior to the ribbon cutting. “It' s a really, really great place.”

The Traffic Garden offers bleacher seating from which parents can monitor their children's fun, along with restroom facilities. In the coming weeks a shade structure will be installed above the bleachers. The adjacent lot to the east of the Traffic Garden, which can be entered from the westbound Jeffery St., is available for vehicle parking.

In 2018 the District purchased the defunct Ocean Breeze Golf Course. That land is in the process of being converted into North Park. The District retired the bond for the North Park property in the summer of 2025 - nearly seven years before it was due – accelerating the development process.

Walking trails and bike trails are some of the most desirable features contained within the North Park master plan. North Park development also includes the preservation of green space.

And in June Boca Paddle officially broke ground on what will become Boca Raton's first indoor pickleball and padel courts.