MONTEGO BAY, St James — The management committee for Jarrett Park, a popular venue in this western city, is seeking support to help revitalise the iconic venue.

“We are looking at about $6 million to really get the space looking better,” Committee Secretary Deon Stern-Anglin told the Jamaica Observer.

She is part of the administrative team that took control last November. The facility is State-owned.

“Revenue is being generated but the revenue we are getting is not enough for the work that is needed,” Stern-Anglin lamented.

Jarrett Park has been home to a variety of sporting events for years but is now badly in need of a facelift. Stern-Anglin said the committee will soon launch an appeal for help.

“We are looking to see if we can get help with fixing one of the stands that is basically falling down. We are seeking to get some cement, steel — hopefully a hardware [store] can assist,” she said.

“Anybody that wants to come on board and help us, we are willing to take that help. We’re looking for things like paint, because the stands need to be painted,” she continued.

Jarrett Park was established in 1957 and soon became the centre of sport in western Jamaica. It has hosted popular events such as the Jamaica Premier League and schoolboy football, among others. In its heyday huge crowds would gather on the hillside just outside the venue to watch fiercely contested matches, especially those between Montego Bay-based football teams such as Seba and Wadadah.

The park also hosted Reggae Sunsplash for many years, starting with the world-renowned festival’s first staging in June 1978.

Today the park is a far cry from those glory days, and many events are now held at Catherine Hall Sports Complex.

“They played daCosta Cup over there but I was embarrassed because the place don’t stay good,” Stern-Anglin said.

“The field needs to be rolled and it wants an irrigation system,” she explained.

She is convinced that if the venue is repaired, the crowds will return.

“We want to bring it back so people can feel good to go the facility, watch a football match. Matches will come back there and every other thing that used to keep there,” added Stern-Angling who is eager to see surrounding communities once again benefit from activity at Jarrett Park.

“We, as a body, are willing to open it for the community, and we have already started that,” she said.

“We need the help, especially for the children to use the facility. There are a lot of children around the place and they need a facility like this,” she argued.

Part of land once owned by the Kerr-Jarrett family, the park was purchased by St James Parish Council in the 1950s. It has a capacity of about 4,000. In addition to hosting sporting events the grounds are sometimes rented to church groups and others who wish to use the space. According to Stern-Anglin, they are exploring other ways to earn much-needed revenue.

“At one of our meetings we talked about the potential for tourism at the location. We could possibly put up some signboards and things like that that showcase the history of the park. We think that can work as well,” she explained.

“We are determined to bring it back. We need the help, and we promise that when we bring it back to that level, we promise to uphold it,” Stern-Anglin declared.