Where do the children play?
Published:Tuesday | January 31, 2012 | 12:00 AM
Arthur Hall, Gleaner Writer
"YOU CAN'T talk about rebuilding downtown Kingston without talking about play areas for the children," declared Marva Smith, a talkative resident of Denham Town in west Kingston.
"If the youth them don't have anywhere to play them will just sit on the street corner and get in trouble," added Smith.
She was echoing comments made months ago by member of parliament for Central Kingston. Ronald Thwaites, and Pastor John-Mark Bartlett, who heads the Wildman Street-based Pentecostal Tabernacle.
Almost one year ago, Bartlett told The Gleaner that one of his goals is to have a green area established in central Kingston.
"There is really no green area in this community. No park, nowhere for people to just relax in a half-decent way," said Bartlett.
Some corporate entities have tried to offer support with the ICD Group-sponsored park on Harbour Street between Gold Street and Foster Lane being one example.
Few play areas
The Breezy Castle sports centre, also on Harbour Street, a hard court refurbished by Digicel on Wellington Street in Denham Town, and the National Heroes Park provide some play areas.
But if you tour any of the residential sections of downtown Kingston on a Sunday, you will see youngsters playing some sport on almost every street with the frequent cry of "hold ball" echoing as motor vehicles approach.
"Dem want a ball field fi true," declared Lavern, as she watched a group of children play football on the busy Wildman Street, Sunday morning.
Nearby on Gold Street, it was sheer pace from a young fast bowler, but the game had to stop each time the tennis ball found its way into the foul-smelling water which flowed along the side of the road.