1901 N. Seacrest Boulevard
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General Information
Acreage: 23.0
Park Hours: Sunrise – Sunset (lighted facilities open until 10:00 p.m.)
Amenities
Baseball/softball field, basketball courts, benches, bike rack, concession building (hours vary), cricket pitch, drinking fountain, fitness trail (1/2-mile path with no exercise stations; around football field), football field, gazebo, gymnasium, meeting space, nature preserve, open play area, recreation center, rental pavilions, playground, racquetball court, restrooms, tennis courts
Historical Information
The facility and park opened in 1992. Various phases of development and expansion have occurred since. The center is named after former Vice-Mayor Ezell Hester, Jr.
Half or more of the 23-acre site the park and recreation center sits on was once one of the largest remainders of native Florida scrubland in Palm Beach County (in 1988). As a part of the construction, scrub preserve fencing was placed around the Rolling Green Scrub.
The property was owned by a developer who was developing property on Congress Avenue. The developer was not interested in developing the property so to satisfy land dedication requirements the land was given to the City. Rolling Green Park (not to be confused with Rolling Green Elementary School) was the original park name before the Community Center and Park were built (near where the football field and scrub areas are now) and it was much smaller. In planning the park, the City was required to preserve about 25% of the total acreage as scrubland (Rolling Green Scrub).
The recreation center includes a full size gymnasium, lobby area, weight room, meeting room, craft room, a game room, computer lab and office space for staff.
The press box was built adjacent to the football field in 2003 and is dedicated to former Recreation and Parks Department employee, Tom Williams. The first floor of the building is occupied by the Police Athletic League (P.A.L.) office and the top floor is the press box. The athletic complex has been dedicated to Bill Tome for his years of service to P.A.L.
A new playground was built, on the previous spot of the sand volleyball court, in 2006.
