Ariel W.

Patch Reef Park was built in 1987. Boca Raton and Palm Beach County got together and purchased the land for the park jointly in 1982. The county kicked in one million dollars and leased it to the city for 99 years. Last year the city completed a project that was started in 2016 to put in artificial turf fields at a cost of four million dollars. The new fields don't require maintenance, stay cool, and allow youth athletes to lay on a professional level field. This park is quite large at 55 acres and it has a lot of amenities. In addition to the three new synthetic turf all purpose fields, the park also has three baseball fields, a pirate themed playground with splash pad, the James A. Rutherford Community Center, three basketball courts and six half courts, five picnic shelters with tables and grills, tennis center with 17 lighted plexicushion courts, and a fitness trail with exercise stations. When my daughter was younger we used to come to the park for the carnival and other events they held. It has been a few years since I'd been here when I found myself nearby looking for a place to exercise. I was impressed with how nice this park looked. I was less impressed with the basketball players cursing up a storm in front of the kids on the playground. I don't appreciate my peaceful Saturday morning being punctuated with Mother F'ers and F bombs. Once I got away from the basketball court I had a nice mile long walk on a path that wound through the park. Along the way there were exercise stations so you can increase your workout. A fence behind the playground leads to the Patch Reef Trail, a 3.4 mile paved trail that extends along the E4 Canal and goes from Glades Road to Yamato providing a safe place for people to bike ride. There is so much to do at this park for both kids and adults. From team sports to solo exercisers, everyone can get their needs met. Best of all, unlike the county parks in Broward, Patch Reef doesn't charge a weekend entrance fee. This is one of the nicest parks in Boca.

Otty B.

Love the theme of the pirate playground. There are different playground to choose and water splash. The bathroom is in front of the playground. The park is clean and safe. The parking lot is spacious. Thank you

Glenn G.

THIRTY YEARS I've been living in the area.... and I have been to Patch Reef Park ZERO times. To be honest, I've heard the name before and assumed it was by the beach due to the "REEF" in the name but never been here and never knew where it was... and he probably doesn't even know it but fellow Yelper Tim F is the one that turned me onto the park when he checked in years ago and I noticed it wasn't by the beach as was actually close to the area I ride my bicycle; I put it on my radar and even then, I took a few years to finally visit. Turns out the park is rather large... There are plenty of sports fields that the City uses for league teams for the kids (like baseball and even includes pitching cages for practice)... plenty of bleachers, concessions and rest rooms... there's plenty of walking paths including numerous exercise stations... Kids playground equipment named the "Pirates Cove" is pretty impressive and includes that spongy ground cover so you can feel good when your klutzy kid falls on his face... they even have a Community Center and nearby to that is a Tennis Club... tons of picnic tables, some gazebos and shade for anyone to host a little get-together or enjoy a family picnic... And my favorite part of the park... tons of well manicured landscaping. Nothing worse than a park with no shade and huge fields of bahia sod (that crappy grass that doesn't require regular watering so it always is patchy with dead stuff). This place has plenty to do and it's gorgeous... excellent job Boca Raton !

Rolando O.

Park has a pirate themed jungle gym that my two year old grandson loved. It also has a fun water area with a canon and steaming water.

Gabriella G.

I really do love this park. It is only a few minutes west of 95. There is plenty of parking. A splash pad for the kids, a big pirate ship play structure, swings ( including a tire swing), a covered pavilion, lots of trees, and outdoor restrooms. Not to mention the physical park itself has a tennis center, super long bike/walking trail, more pavilions & of course a community center too. Their are always other children here at the play ground, literally no matter what time of the day you come. And the park happens to be open till 8pm. The only thing that play ground is missing: would be a fence around it & maybe a few more benches for parents. It does it pretty busy around 5pm on a weekday & especially late morning on the weekends. I am quite pleased with this park and so is my son!

Andrea R.

Spring break in Boca Raton! My kids could not be more thrilled to be hitting up parks in the spring...and without a coat on! While there's no need for a coat at Patch Reef Park, I recommend a bathing suit. A bathing suit would be especially handy if your kid likes playing in the water like my 2 year old. While I didn't come prepared with a bathing suit at least I had a change of clothes. The only thing more exciting than the water play was the giant pirate ship play structure, sure to be a hit among any Jake the Pirate fans. In fact, I heard at least 3 kids climbing on the structure mention Jake the Pirate. I can't seem to escape Disney. There are two areas for swings and both have baby swings. My 4 year old was all about the tire swing and has asked many times since if we can add one to our playset at home. I have no doubt it wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable if she could swing on it daily. There's also a ninja warrior type of course for older kids that my youngins didn't seem to notice, but great to know this is a park I could bring them to for many spring breaks to come.

Michael C.

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.

Alexandra D.

LOVE love love this park! It has a huge playground and swings and a water play area! So bring the kids suits and a towel! They have 1 big pavilion in the middle and a few picnic tables around the park. Only thing I don't like is there is no fence around it. So if a kids wants to run.. It's right into the parking lot. The bathrooms are right there. Lots of shade from the trees around. Always close parking and it's never too full. My daughter always makes friends and the moms I talk to are always friendly. It's a very clean park. I never see garbage anywhere. There's a basketball court that always has kids playing on. The community center is big and has flyers of events and activities around the area. Also this park has annual fairs! I can't wait for the fall one!

Lana Z.

One of my favorite parks to go to with my grandson. Always plenty of available parking space, clean bathrooms and a very nice playgrounds. They also have a splash water area. If you like to walk, there is a walking loop with exercise equipment along the way, for basketball lovers, plenty of space to shoot the hoops. It is a very nice place, away from traffic, just to sit and relax. You can always find a shady spot. Not to big, not to small, just perfect and kids love it too.

Diane G.

My son and I agree that this is by far the the best park we have ever visited. There are plenty of benches around the perimeter of the playground area with mature trees providing shade. There are so many areas to play that offer so many different options for kids of all ages...and it is large enough for dozens of kids to play together! Swings for all ages, a tire swing, a giant climbing pirate ship, a water/splash zone, a ropes/obstacle climbing area, and an alligator and concrete turtle (the turtle brought me back to the first park I played in when I was a kid living in Burbank, it was a nice memory). Bathrooms are conveniently located and clean. The landscaping is beautiful. We LOVED this park...we wish it were closer to our home, we'd be here every day!