Recently, I have been scouting locations for a party in south Florida. During my quest for a venue suitable to a crowd of 60+ I came across a wonderful little park in Boca Raton. Monday through Saturday this park is open from 8am until 11 pm and the cost for one of the park’s pavilions is only $16 for county residents.

The park has basketball courts, playgrounds, fitness trails, softball and baseball fields, and 17 tennis courts. The park is beautiful and well maintained, and I have to wonder, how on Earth does it stay this way? I’ve seen city parks before, and they are either too sparse to be usable or too dirty to be pleasant. Yet this park has multiple fields and is still a wonderful and clean place to bring your kids.

Making this park even better is its complete ban on smoking and alcohol, and it has a park-wide lightning prediction system. Those other city parks need to turn their eyes to Patch Reef, not only is it safe but it’s fun. Finally, a decent place and clam place to escape our otherwise hectic city.