Photo credit: RoadTripWarrior

Ground was broken recently for the construction of a newly designed eastern entrance for the Hope Royal Botanical Gardens in St. Andrew.

The project, being financed by the Culture, Health, Arts, Sports, and Education (CHASE) Fund, is in keeping with the reimaging of the gardens to make the green space more attractive for visitors.

Chief Executive Officer of the CHASE Fund, William “Billy” Heaven said that “the project that we envisage is one that will introduce and announce the gardens even from a distance”.

Member of Parliament for the St Andrew Eastern and Minister of Education and Youth, Hon. Fayval Williams, in welcoming the project said that Hope Gardens has long been a recreational spot for families or persons visiting the capital city.

She noted that as one of Kingston’s largest green spaces, the gardens are accessible free of cost to all Jamaicans and overseas visitors and often records annual attendance exceeding 1.5 million persons.

“The increase in traffic over the years have, however, made it challenging at times to enter and exit the property in a reasonable time. The gardens provide not only an oasis for rest and relaxation but also much information on the variety of the botanical collection here,” she noted, adding that the Hope Zoo is on the must-visit list for schools as they plan their yearly educational field trips and excursions.

“I am sure that the new eastern entrance… will not only add to the aesthetics but bring considerable relief to persons traversing the area,” the Education Minister said.

Readers Bureau

Edited by Jesus Chan

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