Carder Park gets new lights

Port Antonio, Portland:

THE REHABILITATION of Carder Park, Portland’s premier playing field, which is now retrofitted with floodlights, is being viewed by many as “a long time in coming” and as such, the parish is now poised to accommodate varied night sporting activities at its multipurpose facility.

Carder Park, which had fallen into disrepair for more than 10 years, is now buzzing with excitement, and according to 75-year-old Renford Egbert, a resident and a sports enthusiast, the park, which according to him, has seen the likes of former national footballers Lenworth Hyde, Ali McNab, Peter Cargill, Walter Boyd, Kingsley Chin, Nicholas and Chris Ziadie, Anthony ‘Penny Head’ Nelson and Clive ‘Ninja’ Smith, appear set to, once again, brighten up sports in the parish.

“Mi cyaa believe say Carder Park get floodlights. I remember some years ago, probably in the late 1980s or early 1990s, the park was banned after an ugly incident took place there wid a referee and some spectators,” Egbert recounted.

“No competition games were played at the park for about 10 years and so all football matches were transferred to either Lynch Park in Buff Bay, the Boundbrook Pavilion, or the CASE (College of Agriculture Science and Education) playing field. And we kept wondering when will they fix up Carder Park and allow games to be played there. Mi just happy say mi live fi see dis and mi thank di people dem that have vision and those that carry out di work, so that the younger generation can enjoy dis. Politics or no politics di park fix up nice with seats and bright light. A di best mi see di park in years.” The rehabilitation of the park came about as a result of a joint effort between West Portland Member of Parliament (MP} Daryl Vaz and the Portland Municipal Corporation (formerly the Portland Parish Council).

Dialogue surrounding the park’s redevelopment began in 2013.

Since acquiring funding through the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund, the now upgraded multipurpose facility is a spectacle and from all indications, the approximately $50 million spend is being viewed by many as well worth it.

Carder Park, which lies in the constituency of East Portland, is also home to a female football competition, the brainchild of sitting MP Ann-Marie Vaz, who revealed that one of her passions is sport.

Vaz, who launched the football league in 2021, said there was no way the many appeals for help could have been ignored, and that she was determined to ensure that the once-vibrant sporting facility would be able to go back to its former glory.

“Sports is one way of bridging the gap between rivals and persons having domestic challenges. And so Carder Park will be able to do just that. Everyone will be able to sit together and enjoy football, netball, basketball, and cricket under lights. This facility is retrofitted with specially designed LED lights, which brings about brightness all over. And so I am happy to be a part of this history that showcases Portland and its people,” said Vaz.

Carder Park was officially opened yesterday with a doubleheader football match featuring Berrydale United against Manchioneal and Rio United against Progressive Football Club. The activities ended with a stage show featuring Capleton, Louie Culture, Sizzla, Josie Wales, Turbulence, Bugle, Frisco Kid, I Waata, and Shane’O.