Maverley Park construction delay disheartens residents

Residents of Maverley in St Andrew are expressing disappointment over what they say is the snail’s pace construction of a multimillion-dollar park in their community.

Two years ago, Prime Minister Andrew Holness and other members of the central and local government broke ground for the park to much fanfare. However, so far only phase one of the project, which involved the planting of trees and the fencing of the area, has been completed, with no clear timeline for when the other segments of the project will be carried out.

“The park is the beauty of the community, the park is what give it the first look… in how wi look,” Jack Vassell, a resident of the community, said in expressing his disappointment with the apparent stagnation of the project.

Another Maverley resident, who requested anonymity, said the remodelling of the park was anticipated for the value it would add to the community.

“We feel good ‘cause wi a seh di park a guh buil’ up, weh di pickney dem can run up and dung, keep dem affa di street and suh, and wi nuh see nothing a done; it just stop,” the resident said.

The park, which is being developed on an open lot at the corner of Molynes Road and West Main Drive, is to include amenities such a jogging trail, interior walk, children play area, benches, game lounge, snack bar, restroom facilities, water-harvesting system for irrigation of vegetation, and the construction of a perimeter fence with two large entrance andexit gates.

The area, described by residents as a “dust bowl”, is owned by the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation, and was previously used to host church services and other entertainment activities, or as a bypass for pedestrians heading into or leaving Maverley via Molynes Road.

Pride of the community

Sixty-eight-year-old Norman Brown recalled the time when the park, which was established in the 1950s, was the pride of the community.

“Mi used to run up and down inna di park. Mi remember inna our time, you have seesaw, swing sung, everything over deh. Mi wudda like fi see it build up back fi di upcoming yutes dem,” he said.

Amplifying their frustration, the residents explained, was the lack of communication from the relevant stakeholders.

Another resident who requested anonymity, shared concerns that the newly elected mayor of Kingston, Andrew Swaby, has not addressed it.

Alphonso Downer, a 54-year-old resident of the community, also shared similar sentiments.

“I heard that it was going to be taken in three phases, so it wasn’t going to be like one continuous projects. But I don’t think anybody expected that there would be such a long break between the phases. I don’t know what is happening,” he said.

Swaby told The Gleaner last week that he had made inquiries into the project and was awaiting a brief.

“It is my intention that if I can’t get an official briefing, I’ll be asking the then mayor for what was his understanding of it; and it may mean that I’ll have to speak to the member of parliament and the community in general,” he said.

However, former Mayor of Kingston Delroy Williams, under whose stewardship the project was initiated, told The Gleaner that the park is being constructed in three phases and that this approach was taken based on the availability of funds. He said the first phase, which cost approximately $40 million, was funded with support from the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, and monies will be sought from other ministries and agencies to fund the other two phases.

Williams explained that the delay in the completion of the first phase of the project was because of “issues with the contractor”.

“They were slow and weren’t as responsive and, at times, I myself had to visit there and try and put some pressure on the contractors,” he said.

While not providing a timeline for the commencement of phase two of the project, the now deputy mayor of Kingston, said it will comprise building the play area, green spaces, car park, and renovating a building on the property.

“My personal view is that we’ve come a far way with the park. It’s looking good, I like the trees there,” Williams said. “The place will be a transformed place, far from what it was by the completion of it. It’s just that we have to take our time, ensure it is done properly, and just find the funding.”

sashana.small@gleanerjm.com