A major water park is to be constructed on the Kingston waterfront as the Government continues its push to redevelop the downtown business district while creating recreational spaces for Jamaicans.

In making the announcement, Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke noted that the country’s economic fortunes and fiscal conditions have strengthened, thus making it possible for the long talked about development of the waterfront to begin.

He was speaking inside Gordon House on Tuesday as he opened the 2023/24 Budget Debate.

“Though we are not through the woods, as a consequence of our disciplined approach, we have experienced the gains of economic reform and recovery. And we believe that those gains should be used to improve the quality of life for all Jamaican people,” said Clarke.

He shared that the government intends to make a significant investment in the waterfront, starting with a signature waterfront park to be constructed on nine acres of land owned by the Urban Development Corporation along a one-mile stretch of the waterfront.

Clarke said the process to design the park will invite input from a broad base of stakeholders.

“This park will eventually connect with a planned 25 kilometre ‘Kingston Harbour Walk’ extending from downtown Kingston to Port Royal,” he revealed.

In making the case for what will be significant expenditure, Clarke pointed out that as has been demonstrated in similar projects across the world, public spaces and parks can:

• be transformational by boosting the identity and economic trajectory of a city such as Kingston;

• promote pride and well-being – the waterfront park has the potential to become iconic – with a design that celebrates our distinctive culture, music, language, history;

• serve a broad base of locals as well as attract tourists;

The finance minister pointed to a time, 40 to 50 years ago, when Kingston’s waterfront was busy and vibrant.

“The area was once a site of bustling commerce, a place to shop, gather, play, eat and drink, stroll – visited by thousands every year. Older persons strolling and relaxing along the promenade; young people playing, mothers watching over young children. Friends meeting to catch up with friends, getting a bite to eat, hat and all. Shops busy, cafes and bars noisy with customers,” Clarke reminisced.

He pointed to the small ‘finger piers’ that jutted out from the land, and from which teenagers jumped into the water.

“But in subsequent decades, vibrancy drained away from the waterfront. As the decades went by, the waterfront was under-invested both by the mainstream business community and the public sector. Many offices and shops closed or relocated. Government lacked sufficient resources or capacity to invest substantively – the quality of maintenance declined,” Clarke said.

Now there is a push to revitalise the area in particular and the wider economy in general, beginning with a water park.