A video featuring the design concept for a new four-acre public park in the middle of George Town has been released for public viewing.
The sweeping animated views of Central Scranton Park include two manmade ponds, a basketball court, a seniors’ centre, exercise equipment, landscaping, and a wishing well.
Minister of Tourism and Ports Kenneth Bryan, who is the representative for George Town Central, displayed the visuals for the first time to attendees at his district meeting on 20 April.
He explained that the build will take place on the site of an old community park and adjacent Crown land off Myles Lane, and promised it will be completed within the next two years.
Currently the land, which is occasionally used for community events, is unpaved, covered in rubbish and has a dilapidated basketball court, weed-filled pond and boarded-up buildings.
Bryan said that since he took office two years ago he has had a vision to turn the area into a multi-purpose park with a centre focused on entertainment and events.
He said he is excited to build a place “where youth and seniors can go and come together in a family atmosphere”.
During the showing of the video, the minister described the large seniors’ centre which will be fitted with solar panels and have a space where the ministry can host bingo nights.
He said there will be a roundabout near the main entrance where cars can pull in and elderly people can get dropped off by their children.
An old wishing well “where the people from Central Scranton used to go get water” will be preserved and has been incorporated into the design as a focal point.
“If I get my way, I want to get a massive anchor from those tankers to pay tribute to our seaman heritage in this country,” Bryan said, adding it will be placed in one of the ponds.
The ministry is also working with the Department of Environment to plant some “beautiful green lilies” in the ponds to focus on the environment and add greenery, he told attendees.
“This location will be a place for kids to go after school, seniors can go and exercise… where you can go and relax and sit and talk together, a place that we can come together as Caymanians.
“And that’s the commitment that I’ve promised George Town Central, that this park will be done before the end of this administration.”
The Compass has reached out to the Ministry of Tourism and Ports for details on the cost and timescale for the build and is awaiting a response.
Related Videos
Mr Minister,
The present “Glass House” site already has mature trees and parking and is basically a park. Who seriously will take advantage of a land locked Park that is created at great expense to the “Public Purse” at this site, when the sea beckons nearby. Better, the site on North Church Street.
You are quoted as saying there will be a roundabout at the entrance for people to drop off elderly persons to use the park, have you done a business plan to confirm this.
Look at all the other parks around the Island, never used and garbage ridden. This site would benefit downtown as a convenient parking area, or a dispatch for Cruise Operators to work from instead of the dock.