Gumbo Limbo Environmental Complex
(1984-present)
man
Aged 40
Wikidata WikipediaThe Gumbo Limbo Environmental Complex, commonly known as the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, is a nature center operated by the city of Boca Raton, Florida in conjunction with the Gumbo Limbo Coastal Stewards (Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, Inc.) and the Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District, and located at 1801 N. Ocean Blvd. in Boca Raton. Gumbo Limbo sits on twenty acres of protected barrier island, the area between the Intracoastal and the Atlantic Ocean. It is on land which is part of the beachfront-to-intracoastal Red Reef Park, though Gumbo Limbo does not have land directly on the beach (though it does have Intracoastal Waterway frontage). Its name comes from the popular name of the Bursera simaruba tree species, which is abundant in the park. The center includes an indoor museum with exhibits, small aquariums, and a gift shop, plus more major outdoor facilities including several large aquariums featuring ecosystems for fish, turtles, and other sea life, a boardwalk trail through the adjacent woods, and a garden designed for observing butterflies. Events organized by the center include observations of sea turtles during their nesting season. Volunteers from the local community significantly assist in the operation of this center and its events.
DbPedia
Commemorated on 1 plaque
Gordon John Gilbert January 27, 1931 Gordon Gilbert and his young family first came to Boca Raton from his native Ohio in 1965. As a high school science teacher, Gordon led field trips to provide students a first-hand view of their environment. Many joined his evening tours to observe sea turtles laying eggs along the beaches. Eventually, his teaching assignments led him to plan and manage the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, serving as its initial director. Gordon Gilbert served for over 30 years as an elected commissioner of the greater Boca Raton Beach & Park district and on numerous city advisory boards. Those leadership positions enabled him to shape community attitudes toward the purchase and development of natural and active recreation areas. Through his vision and initiative, the community acquired more than 1,000 acres of land for public parks and nature preserves.
Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 North Ocean Boulevard, Boca Raton, FL, United States where it was