Road Town, Tortola - The plans for the Greenland Field Expansion Project were announced recently at a public meeting held at the East End/Long Look Community Centre.
The project is being executed by the Ministry of Finance, with supervision by its Project Support Services Unit (PSSU).
According to Project Coordinator with the PSSU, Mr. Duane Fraites, “The project, which began in March of last year, was initiated due to the evident need to renovate the field’s facilities.”
“However, works were later suspended as a new initiative to upgrade and expand the field was realised after additional land was acquired by the Government. As such, the new designs are a result of this new initiative which includes the existing field and the adjacent property recently acquired,” said Mr. Fraites.
In relation to the project’s phases, Project Engineer with the PSSU, Mr. Kevi Potter said, “The expectation is that the project will be executed in two phases. The first phase of the works will be to restore the field, which will include the installation of a drainage and irrigation system, the laying of new sod and the construction of a new basketball court.”
“Works are expected to recommence in July once the drawings have been finalised. The proposed time frame is six months,” said Mr. Potter.
He added, “The second phase of the works, which will require excavation of the adjacent property for the construction of combined netball, tennis, volleyball and basketball courts, are expected to begin in the latter half of 2011. Other works to be included in phase two are the expansion of the parking lot, the installation of the 500-seat grandstand and landscaping.”
“Prior to the suspension of works, there were six contractors assigned to the development. These contractors will complete their works as stipulated in their contracts. Preliminary estimates indicate that the combined phases are expected to cost approximately $2 million over the duration of the project,” explained Mr. Potter.
The project manager is Mr. Allen Wheatley of W and W Project Management Services, the engineer is Mr. Jerome Frett of Jerome Frett Consulting Engineering and the architect is Ms. Avaline Potter of A R Potter and Associates Ltd.
At the meeting, Ms. Potter delivered a presentation explaining the plans she designed. She highlighted the special features of her designs, which include an outdoor gym to be outfitted with ten pieces of equipment, an NBA-sized basketball court with five rows of bleachers and team seating, an International Softball Federation’s standard-sized softball field, and a four-hour drainage system, capable of handling moderate to heavy showers.
The public meeting was attended by Deputy Premier, Minister of Health and Social Development and Representative for the Eighth District Honourable Dancia Penn, OBE, QC, Representative for the Seventh District Honourable Dr. Kedrick Pickering, Territorial Representative Honourable Irene Penn-O’Neal and residents of the East End and Long Look community.
The Project Support Services Unit was established by the Ministry of Finance to implement and maintain a project management system of policy and procedures to ensure the effective and efficient management of all government projects, with the goal of achieving value for money.
British Virgin Islands News