Dump-Up Beach to become Emancipation Park of MoBay
PRIME MINISTER Andrew Holness has said the development of a state-of the-art beach park at Closed Harbour Beach in Montego Bay, St James, will transform the city, creating additional recreational space, while enhancing the tourism product.
“We are going to create the Emancipation Park of Montego Bay right here,” he said at a town hall meeting held at the project site on November 22, where the architectural design for the development was shown to the public.
“You have seen the artist’s rendition of what will be built here, and by the oohs and the aahs, it has met your approval. So, we know we can move ahead with confidence that the people of Montego Bay are satisfied with [the plans],” the prime minister added.
MUCH-NEEDED DEVELOPMENT
For his part, Mayor of Montego Bay and Chairman of the St James Municipal Corporation, Councillor Homer Davis, said the development of Closed Harbour Beach “is a much-needed recreational space that will enhance the aesthetics of Montego Bay”.
“The St James Municipal Corporation fully supports this development, which will add value to this location. It will certainly be a thing of beauty for our citizens to enjoy their leisure time,” he added.
Ground will be broken in January 2019 for the development of the 16-acre property, also known as Dump-Up Beach, which will be transformed into a world-class multi-zoned public space within two years, at a projected cost of $700 million.
It will feature a jogging trail, soft and hard landscaping, an outdoor amphitheatre, multipurpose courts, a children’s play area, food kiosks and a boardwalk, among other amenities.