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A section of the new Football Stadium at Warner Park.
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Basseterre, St. Kitts (September 12, 2007): Phase one of the Warner Park redevelopment project is now complete, signaling an end to mass construction at the Federation’s premier sporting facility.
The completion of the football stadium was the final activity under this Phase, which also saw the transformation of the cricket field to a world class multipurpose complex where major international events can be hosted.
This was the case when first round matches of the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 11th Annual St. Kitts Music Festival were staged at the facility earlier this year.
“Government is continuing to fulfill its pledge to provide modern multipurpose entertainment and sporting facilities,” Acting Director of Sports Dave Connor told SKNIS. “The provision of modern facilities will serve to further develop our athletic prospects and encourage healthy lifestyle activities such as exercise among our population.
~~Adz:Right~~“It also expands the knowledge base of local construction workers who build these facilities and adds to the infrastructural development of the island,” Connor added, noting that the media exposure the country receives for hosting regional and international sporting events is of tremendous value.
The refurbished football stadium features a main stand and two bleacher sections which can seat 2,050 persons. Hundreds more can comfortably be accommodated on a spectator mound and at various open areas around the field. Four dressing rooms, a media room, a V.I.P. Lounge and five other rooms which can be used for medical, officiating or related purposes are also available. Areas for concession as well as a special services section are also designated at the facility which hosted its first match on Sunday when St. Kitts and Nevis tied one all, with the Dominican Republic in a CONCACAF Preliminary match in the 2008 Olympic Qualifier round.
The complete redevelopment project features the construction of an athletic track. Phase two of the project is currently ongoing with the construction of the Bird Rock athletic stadium. The facility will feature a "Class 2" 400-meter synthetic athletic track and a 200-meter warm up track with seating for 4,000 persons. It will be completed in time to host the 2008 CARFITA Games in March.
The sporting facilities at Warner Park, and other locations including Molineaux, Cayon, Conaree and St. Pauls impressed a recent visiting delegation of officials from Tobago. Tracy Davidson and Godwin Adams of the Tobago House of Assembly headed the group which included the director of sport, a civil engineer, an architect and three representatives from the Tobago Cricket Association. The visit was organized as part of a regional consultation tour which would gather best practices that will be used to shape their design of a top class cricket facility.
While here, the group met with Minister of State responsible for Sports Hon. Richard Skerritt, Charles Wilkin of the Local Organizing Committee and Ingleton Liburd of the St. Kitts Cricket Association.
Ms. Davidson was reportedly pleased at the outcome of the visit and thought that the information gathered would go a long way in helping to design a practical facility in Tobago. She was particularly intrigued with the plans that government has in place to maximize the use of the facilities by hosting overseas teams during their preseason.
