In the 1970's the City of Boca Raton began to make an effort to preserve five miles along the coastline. Part of this preservation effort included purchasing 67 acres for Red Reef Park in 1974 through a special bond referendum. The master plan for Red Reef Park recommended the development of a nature center and as a result a group of concerned citizens formed the Gumbo Limbo Friends of the Nature Center. The City of Boca Raton's Sea Turtle Conservation Program began shortly after. In 1981 Red Reef Park opened with the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center and a par 3 golf course that was once a private course belonging to Sun and Surf Club.

In 2021 a new snorkel reef made out of limestone boulders was constructed to extend the snorkel trail for beach goers. The new reef was created to attract sergeant majors, parrotfish, bar jack, spot tail pinfish, molly miller, and more. I used to love coming to this park with my daughter when she was younger. She would spend hours snorkeling the reef off the beach but when we used come here it was $20 to park. Now it costs $50 just to enter Red Reef with a car on the weekend. I would rather spend the money for the shuttle to Peanut Island where you can snorkel off the beach or go to Phil Foster Park for the snorkel trail for free.

Visitors to Red Reef come to enjoy swimming, surf fishing, snorkeling, scuba diving, and photography. I hadn't been to Red Reef for a number of years but one day after visiting Gumbo Limbo I wanted to check the beach out. If you don't want to pay the $50 entrance fee you can park across the street at the municipal golf course for $3 an hour. I enjoyed the walking paths in the park through the coastal hammock. In addition to beach access the park also has picnic areas with grills, shower, restroom, and a playground. Note that alcohol and pets are not permitted in the park.