UDC to temporarily close AquaSol Beach Park

The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) has closed the AquaSol Beach Park, also known as Walter Fletcher Beach on the Montego Bay Hip Strip, effective yesterday.

The UDC said that closure of the beach to the public is to facilitate the rehabilitation of the facility and the improvement of its service delivery its many local and international customers. "This is in keeping with our corporate commitment to bringing our recreational facilities on par with global standards of service," UDC said in a release.

Walter Fletcher Beach forms part of reclaimed beaches developed along the waterfront by the UDC in 1976, providing snack counters, play and picnic areas, and changing rooms. It was further upgraded between 1982 and 1984.

"The UDC continues to work on other projects in Montego Bay as part of the Greater Montego Bay Redevelopment Plan," the corporation said, adding that it was working with the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, with funding from the KfW Development Bank for the rehabilitation of one of three groynes along the Montego Bay Waterfront.

"Groynes help to protect the shoreline from sand erosion and loss of ecosystems and are critical to the protection of the Montego Bay central business district from flooding. Funding is being sought for the remaining groynes."