BASEETERRE, St. Kitts - WITH the master plan unveiled and the sod officially turned, residents of Constituency Number Two have been promised that their state-of-the-art internationally-comparable New Road Family Park would be constructed and ready for use by April 2014.
The ground-breaking ceremony was held on Wednesday (Jan. 22) at the site of the proposed park located on the eastern side of Tegreman Boulevard, New Road Project.
The event was held under the auspices of the Governor General, His Excellency Sir Edmund Lawrence, and was attended by Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, most of his Cabinet colleagues, candidates for the St. Kitts-Nevis Labour Party, Taiwanese Ambassador Miguel Tsao and residents of New Road and surrounding areas.
The idea for the park is the brainchild of Minister of Health, Gender Affairs and Community Development and Parliamentary Representative for the Constituency Number Two, the Hon. Marcella Liburd and the US$500 000 facility is being funded by the Republic of China on Taiwan.
According to Project Coordinator Peter Jenkins, the one-acre-plus facility would cater to the needs of toddlers, early childhood children, older children and even the elderly.
It will feature several areas including one specifically designed for toddlers, one for older children, a gazebo and outdoor gym area, a playground for school-aged children and a climbers area.
According to Ambassador Tsao, the park would be comparable with those in the international community and would be accessorised with a number of benches, trees, garbage bins and would be illuminated with LED lights.
The area would be fenced and would also feature a walkway or track surrounding the park. Restrooms, including a “family restroom” would also form part of the property and a designated parking area(s) would also form part of the property.
Speaking to the gathering, Minister Liburd declared that the park is in keeping with the “Stronger Families and Safer Communities” theme which was adopted in 2010.
She said the park - which would be the first of its kind in St. Kitts-Nevis and the region, would act as a hub for social integration amongst all ages and would encourage total family fitness, especially during a time when the cases of obesity within the Federation are on the rise.
Overlooking the beautiful expanse which encapsulates portions of the island’s capital, Port Zante and the Caribbean Sea, persons who use the park will not only enjoy recreation, exercise and socialisation but also a panoramic and picturesque view of portions of the island.
Prime Minister Douglas - in addressing the gathering - commended Minister Liburd for her foresight and outlined some of the benefits of such a project.
Resident of the area Steve Carty also lauded Minister Liburd for the project and indicated that it is a welcomed attraction which all, especially the elderly, could enjoy.
This is part of and a major portion of a five-prong project geared towards recreational facilities within Constituency Number Two.
