Officials broke ground at the long-awaited new Central Scranton Park on Thursday.
The park, once completed, will include a community centre for seniors, a youth centre for after-school programmes, walking paths, a pond and wishing well, a multi-purpose sports court and a calisthenics area, according to a press release from the Ministry of Tourism.
It is being built beside Myles Road, off Shedden Road, on the site of an old community park and adjacent Crown land.
The ministry, which hosted the groundbreaking ceremony, described the event as a “significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to enhance community spaces and improve the quality of life in the country’s capital of George Town”.
It said the park is “set to become a vibrant hub for relaxation, recreation, and community gatherings”.
Tourism minister Kenneth Bryan, in his remarks at the ceremony, said, “Today marks a pivotal moment for George Town and our entire community. The creation of Central Scranton Park has been a long time coming, and I am thrilled to see this vision finally coming to life.
“This park will not only provide a beautiful and welcoming space for our residents and visitors but will also serve as a testament of our commitment to enhancing the quality of life for everyone in the Cayman Islands who choose to utilise this space.”
Successive governments have promised to develop the park over the years. The land for the park was purchased in 2018 by the Progressives-led administration.
The park was designed by the government’s Public Works Department and architectural firm Chalmers Gibbs.
“We approached the design of Central Scranton Park with a deep respect for the community’s needs and the island’s natural beauty. Our goal was to create a park that is a place for leisure, wellness and exercise and community events. We are honoured to contribute to a project that will have such a lasting impact on the community,” Sean Evans, the Public Works Department’s senior manager of consultancy services, said.
‘A dream’
President of the Central Scranton Committee Dale Ramoon said in the release that the park had been a “dream of ours for many years” and the committee was happy to see it being made a reality.
“I truly believe Central Scranton Park will be a space where families, especially young people and our elderly, can come together to enjoy wholesome activities, as well as to participate in variety of community events,” he added.
Bryan noted that several landowners had allowed the government to purchase their properties in order to expand the park’s footprint, including Capital One, Evert Lenward Scott, Eunice Seymour, Benjamin Seymour, Steve McField and Frank Schilling.
He also acknowledged the efforts of previous government members, who had also worked towards making the new park a reality, including Kurt Tibbetts, Sir Alden McLaughlin, Lucille Seymour, Barbara Conolly, Frank McField and others.
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