Pembroke Hall gets $16-m wellness park
Residents of Pembroke Hall in St Andrew have been provided with an additional facility to engage in physical activities, following the official reopening of a wellness park in the area.
The park was renovated at a cost of approximately $16 million and officially handed over by the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund , during a ceremony held on its grounds last Friday. Community members and children have access to a jogging trail, playground area and benches as well as an area dedicated to playing table tennis and chess.
Fitness enthusiast Shelly-Ann Jackson, who moved to the area in 2010, said prior to the build-out of the space, she felt miserable not having an appropriate area to exercise.
“Prior to this being officially opened, we were allowed to come over and work out, and I, personally, train every day and I love it. For the four or three months they closed it for renovation, I was so miserable and now it’s open and I’m excited, so I’ll be out jogging again,” she said.
Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr Nigel Clarke, who is also Member of Parliament for St Andrew North West in which Pembroke Hall lies, said that the park will help to improve the quality of life for the citizens.
“It is the absence of the option to play in safe surroundings that accounts for some of the social conditions that we observe in the country,” he said. “Communities cannot be established if we just stay in our homes and have nowhere to congregate. It aids the emergence and deepening of a sense and spirit of community to have spaces such as this wellness park.”
Chairman of the CHASE Fund, Omar Frith, said provision will be made for additional works, such as installing a public bathroom and landing pads by the playground area.