Historical Timeline

of the Gumbo Limbo Environmental Complex

 

The 1970s     

  • The City of Boca Raton begins to make a special effort to preserve the five miles of coastline and recognizes that an outdoor, hands-on interpretive program would be extremely beneficial to the community.
  • Local voters approved a $13 million bond obligation to purchase 67.4 acres known as Red Reef Park.
  • The property was acquired as the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District (GBRBPD) and was chartered by the State of Florida as a Special revenue district. This entity could now retire massive bonds, and in conjunction with collected revenues from the City of Boca Raton, could now capitalize the development of Parks on the newly acquired land.
  • A location for Gumbo Limbo and its surrounding environment was proposed.
  • The City of Boca Raton formed a permanent association with the Palm Beach County School Board to begin an environmental program at Spanish River Park (knowing that the program would eventually move to Red Reef Park). Mr. Gordon Gilbert began teaching programs for students at Spanish River Park.
  • The master plan for Red Reef Park (submitted by Reynolds, Smith and Hills, Inc.) recommended the development of a nature center. A group of concerned citizens formed the Gumbo Limbo Friends of the Nature Center and became involved in fund raising and advisory.


The 1980s     

  • The auxiliary group, Gumbo Limbo Nature Center of South Palm Beach County, Inc., was formed from the Gumbo Limbo Friends of the Nature Center and registered its 501c3 organization under Federal law tax. The GBRBPD provided $750,000 to the Parks and Recreational Department (now Recreational Services) to build Gumbo Limbo Nature Center.
  • The GBRBPD approved the first phase of development for Gumbo Limbo (including the main office building, parking lot and outdoor amphitheater). In the same year, the City entered into an agreement with Florida Atlantic University (FAU) for an easement deed for the purpose of maintaining future salt water lines (running from the Atlantic Ocean) with concept of providing a wet lab and salt water corrosion lab for use by certain departments in FAU and the Palm Beach County Schools.
  • The City and the Palm Beach County School System entered into a lease agreement to allow the school system to operate the center with construction beginning in February of the same year.
  • The center was completed and officially dedicated as Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, and classes moved from Spanish River Park to Gumbo Limbo in Red Reef Park.
  • The City and FAU entered into an agreement for a long term lease that would allow the University and the GBRBPD to plan the final phasing for the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center.
  • A $200,000 project was completed that added a 1/3 mile boardwalk and tower to Gumbo Limbo.
  • The Sea Turtle Conservation Program (run by Rick Wolf since its inception in 1976) was transferred to Gumbo Limbo from Development Services.
  • A grant from the Florida Community Facilities Education Act and matched funds from the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District, allowed two new buildings, a research lab, and outdoor tanks to become scheduled for construction. Palm Beach County schools agreed with the City of Boca Raton to staff Gumbo Limbo for the next 40 years.


The 1990s     

  • Florida Atlantic University became a co-applicant for the expansion grant.
  • The two new buildings, research lab and the outdoor tanks were completed. Gumbo Limbo was rededicated as Gumbo Limbo Environmental Complex.
  • Gumbo Limbo received the Howland Award for Environmental Enhancement from the National League of Cities.


The 2000s     

  • An extension was added onto the existing boardwalk, while the Red Reef Golf Course and its adjacent parking lot (including the surrounding environment) were renovated and replanted. Gumbo Limbo began to remove shingles on the roofs over the laboratory, classroom, the main building and bathroom and commenced re-roofing of these buildings.
  • A ceremony was held to honor the retirement of Mr. Gordon Gilbert. Gumbo Limbo completed the addition of four new canopies to replace the older canopies for the outdoor viewing tanks. Florida Atlantic University (FAU) began to remove shingles on their roof and commenced re-roofing of the FAU building.
  • The 20th Anniversary of Gumbo Limbo Nature Center was celebrated with an open house.
  • A Sea Turtle Sculpture Garden depicting life-size representations of the seven species of sea turtles worldwide was completed.
  • The First Annual Sea Turtle Day was held to celebrate 30 years of sea turtle conservation and research in Boca Raton. A boardwalk bridge connecting the Hammock to the tank area was completed as the result of a generous contribution from the Gale Foundation.
  • An outdoor classroom with an authentic chiki roof was constructed near the Intracoastal Waterway along the Ashley Trail.


The 2010s

  • The Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Program is permitted by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and opened. Cold weather takes a toll on Florida's sea turtle population, and the Rehabilitation Program took in over 180 patients in the first few weeks of opening.

About Us