UDC to develop Resilience Park for Portmore

The Urban Development Corporation, UDC, will use a recent $1.4 billion park development as a costing guide for the planned Portmore Resilience Park.

The design and construction tenders for the project are slated to close this week.

The development of the Portmore Resilience Park will see the transformation of between 21 to 26 acres of land within the urban centre into a multipurpose space – serving the Portmore and wider communities of St Catherine and users from across Jamaica. The development will include three distinct elements, public green space, commercial development and a transportation hub.

“This estimate cannot be disclosed at this time; however, the recently completed Harmony Beach Park on 16 acres was approximately $1.4 billion, which is a yardstick that can be used for this 21-acre development two years on,” the UDC said in response to Financial Gleaner queries on the estimated cost of development. Harmony Beach Park is located in Montego Bay.

The UDC which will act as the executing agency has invited expressions of interest for contractors, land developers, engineering firms, architects, and others to bid to develop a 2.75-acre portion for the commercial centre. The tender closes October 22. The UDC stated that the commercial aspect within the development aims to complement the revenue-generating opportunities for Government and the UDC; and importantly raise the value around the area and foster more business.

The name ‘resilience’ speaks to climate resilience, stated the UDC. Climate resilience refers to developments that incorporate various aspects of climate change mitigation to manage extreme heat, increased rain and flood events. This includes the use of green technology, expansive green spaces and mini forests.

“The theme also is in line with the climate change park initiative which had support of the City of Hagen, Germany, in partnership with Jamaica through the Portmore City Municipality,” UDC said.

In August, Prime Minister Andrew Holness at the groundbreaking of a housing scheme pointed out that Emancipation Park in Kingston, operated by the National Housing Trust, will act as a standard for the resilience park’s construction and maintenance.

The UDC, under its Urban Spaces Programme, aims to develop a park in every parish in Jamaica. Parks enhance the quality of life of persons, especially those in our urban centres, it added.

“Further, as part of the national development goals and objectives for a healthy natural environment wherein our people can reach their fullest potential, the development of public green spaces forms part of the Government’s responsibility where we seek to engage the private sector for partnership, to maintain, sponsor and support improved access,” it stated.

This development is in keeping with the overall development plan for Portmore.

steven.jackson@gleanerjm.com