MANDEVILLE, Manchester — The renovation of the Cecil Charlton Park took another forward step recently with the donation of 10 benches by Carreras Limited in conjunction with the Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

Following the brief handover ceremony, Mayor of Mandeville Brenda Ramsay said that within a month there should be the installation of lighting and security fencing.

“That should be in place before we open to the public. We need additional benches but that is not a critical factor,” she said.

The benches came at a cost of $1.1 million.

Ramsay said that the support from Carreras is more than was expected and the Manchester Parish Council is “very, very grateful”.

Carerras’ Managing Director Marcus Steele said that beyond the monetary support the development of the park is an opportunity to bring communities together.

Manchester Chamber of Commerce president Wendy Freckleton and Councillor Jones Oliphant (PNP-Mandeville Division) are among those who foresee the possibilities for the Cecil Charlton Park as a place for families to interact and persons to gather for wholesome recreation.

Ramsay said that other plans include the installation of a bust of the former Mayor of Mandeville in whose honour the park is named, a bust of National Hero Norman Manley who was born in Manchester, a relocation of the taxi park and the renovation of unsightly buildings close to the park.

“We need to raise standards….,” she said.