B.T.L. Park under construction
The Mayor has his eyes on another venture in the city. A restoration project which will see the B.T.L. North Side Park expanded, remodeled and beautified is currently underway in Belize City. While improvement of that public space was envisioned in the U.D.P. City Council manifesto, under former Mayor Zenaida Moya, four years ago, the idea of expanding the park space into the nearby waters seemed a bit unrealistic. That design nonetheless, has been revisited and efforts are ongoing to make it a reality. This afternoon Mayor Darrell Bradley commented on the development of the park.
Darrell Bradley, Belize City Mayor
“We are actually carrying through with the proposal which has been on the table for several years now which is the upgrade of B.T.L. Park and we are doing this in phases. So the first phase is the land reclamation which we’re going to add thirty percent more park space to the park and we plan on doing a pier that goes a hundred and fifty feet into the Caribbean Sea and then the last phase will be the upgrade of the park itself. We’re going to put in some nice kiosks. We’re going to do a nice food court. We’re going to do extended sidewalks and we’re going to build an amphitheater in there to accommodate large concerts. So the full project is supposed to take about four months at a cost of a little under one million dollars.”
Isani Cayetano
Darrell Bradley
“There is an existing bandstand there and the fact that you’re mentioning that an amphitheater will be built to accommodate outdoor events such as concerts and [other] live performances. What’s to become of what’s currently there?”
Darrell Bradley
“Well we’re going to reconstruct it. We’re actually going to take that structure down and it’s a very nice, modern and new design that we are going to put out there. And what we’re thinking is because of just the logistics of the park the design calls for the relocation of the bandstand because as it stands existing you could only, if a concert is there, enjoy half of the park because it’s in the middle of the park. And so, what we are going to do is that we are going to relocate the bandstand to an area that would accommodate larger type public events.”
I wish Bradley and Citco could publish a balanced budget and stick with it.
He just spends from the seat of his pants — why not slow down and LOWER city taxes and fees, if he has so much extra money that he feels justified to take on unnecessary beautification projects? I think most people would prefer lower taxes than fancier parks during this bad economy.
I guess you can’t please all the people all the time. If the public disapproves of what he is doing then their voices will be heard come election.
@ Bear is so small minded!! An immature and bitter man, no sense of pride.
Imagine the garbage, fighting and shooting crime that will now exist even more-I hope to God they have adequate security daily now-it will be like another little cheap hutment style shack favela like battlfield park, like paslow spot and finnegan market? sorry for the real estate value adjoining and goodbye peaceful area.
I do not know if it is politics or the inability to see beyond one’s nose but, some of the postings here are truely disheartening to say the least.
Don’t you feel pleasant and a little embarrased at the same time when you go to say, Chetumal and experience the beauty and development of that city?
I get the impression that YOU are the same ones that keep your garbage in a bag under your seats over there, but can’t wait till you are across the border to fling it out the window.
Take some pride in the Jewel and stop taking it for granted and stop with the negativity.
No lunch is free and no development comes without a cost. At least you know where the tax dollars are being spent. Just food for thought, all you haters.
upgrade to the park is fine, beach, pier , band stand , is all fine benches green area, but no vendors huts, we don’t need any more tacos and panades and tablata stand, then they start living in the place and put clothes line like on freetown by atlantic bank, no vendors huts that is a mistake.
if i remember Zeniada plan correctly it was to give away have d park to d hotel across the street for a parking lot n they would have enlarged the park the same way Mr. Bradley is talking about WONDER IF ITS D SAME PLAN N D SAME PERKS
I agree with Louisville, KY, seems like you damn if you do, and damn if you don’t. Give the Mayor a chance to prove himself, he has some good ides to improve the quality of life for you Belizeans.
I have to come to Bear’s defense. He doesn’t sound bitter, just speaking from experience, and pointing out we are not living in boom times where government has unlimited funds to do everything all at once. And from his many previous postings, I’m pretty sure he is not immature. Someone has to pay for all these things, and it’s never the people who spend the money. It’s you and me and our children, for decades to come. Is this a project that really must be done now?
And how competently are the other projects being accomplished? Today the mayor admitted on another station that streets cemented less than a year ago are already crumbling, and the city has no licensed engineer to supervise how all this public improvement millions are being spent. Big money, shoddy work.
It would be nice to build the city into a Disneyland when we can afford it and if it can be done with lasting quality. Today that is in doubt all over the city.