St. George’s, November 24, 2011 – More green space for recreating has been created in a project involving Grenada and China, private sector backing, and community volunteer support.
Tri-Centennial Park, located just above Sendall Tunnel and a few minutes away from Fort George, is a tribute to the Town of St. George that celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2010.
The park was officially opened Wednesday afternoon at a ceremony attended by dozens of Grenadians and overseas officials.
They included Prime Minister Hon. Tillman Thomas and cabinet colleagues Peter David, Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation and Culture; Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Denis Lett; Minister of Labour, Social Services and Ecclesiastical Affairs, Glynis Roberts; and Minister for Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs, Senator George Prime.
They were joined by senior public servants, members of the clergy and China’s Ambassador to Grenada, Xu Jianguo; Venezuelan Ambassador, Carlos Perez; and Cuban Ambassador Angel Reigosa de la Cruz.
The park project, which was spearheaded by the Ministry of Tourism, received funding from China as part of the twinning of the Town of St. George with the Chinese city of Foshan.
Other funders were the Grenada National Trust and the Trinidad Cement Limited, which was represented at the official opening ceremony by marketing manager, Faye Gill.
According to Tri-Centennial Park officials, the facility – with “a new access walkway between the Matthew Street entrance on Sendall Tunnel and the Fort George Ring Road” – is designed “as a place of relaxation. It will also serve as a venue for performers, painters and other artists.’’
It is also promised that “a memorial wall, listing the names of persons who have contributed to the development of the Town of St. George, will be an important feature of the park.’’
The opening of the park, where work is continuing on enhancing the facility, included the joint unveiling of plaque by Prime Minister Thomas and Ambassador Jianguo.
Both the Prime Minister and Tourism Minister David, who is MP for the Town of St. George, thanked the funders of the project, and said they were looking forward to use of the park by Grenadians and visitors alike.
In the past three years, several efforts have been undertaken to create and upgrade recreational and sporting facilities in communities across the country.
The successes in this area have included the installation of lights at playing fields in St. John, St. Mark, Woburn and River Road, as well the refurbishing and upgrading of Old Trafford Playing Field, and the reopening in Tanteen of the LIME Children’s Playground, which is also known as “The Swing.’’
