Kwale’s new Sh 30 million ultramodern recreational park has been open to the public, offering a welcoming aesthetic and relaxing ambience for leisure.
The state-of-the-art recreational park promises to be the ultimate destination for locals and domestic tourists seeking an exhilarating day out.
Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Lands, Public Works, Housing, and Urban Development Alice Wahome officially commissioned the Kwale park funded under the Kenya Urban Support Programme (KUSP).
CS Wahome says the KUSP is a multibillion-shilling project by the World Bank and the government of Kenya whose objective is to establish and strengthen urban institutions to deliver improved infrastructure and services in the counties.
She says the KUSP is aimed at establishing and strengthening the urban institutions to deliver improved infrastructure and services in participating counties.
The CS noted that the national government has dedicated and allocated resources to counties to ensure infrastructural development and services are improved in urban setups such as the Kwale municipality.
CS Wahome further noted that the national government is focused and committed to tackling challenges such as poor planning of towns, inadequate housing, and poor infrastructure, which are brought about by climate change.
The CS later inspected ongoing works at the Kombani Settlement Scheme, part of the Kenya Informal Settlement Improvement Project (KISIP) initiative, before concluding her visit by overseeing the Matuga Affordable Housing Project.
“I am hopeful that such an investment will go a long way in enhancing Kwale’s tourism and leisure sectors, as the park has many exciting family-friendly attractions on offer,” she said.
The CS charged the people to use the facility with a sense of responsibility and maintain the infrastructure put in place to make the park conducive for all visitors.
The recreational park is situated in Kwale Municipality and is considered as a safe, green space designed for public use, which will serve as a hub for recreation, relaxation, and social interaction.
Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani welcomed the new park, saying Kwale town has long been yearning for a centre of fun and play, especially for children, as it is fully equipped with numerous children’s recreation and fun facilities.
Achani says the unveiling of the new recreational park signifies the devolved government’s commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles and providing accessible recreational facilities for local communities.
She says the new park will be managed by the Kwale town municipality, adding that people in Kwale will have no need to travel to Mombasa to seek leisure.
Achani says the new recreational park hosts many old indigenous trees that would be preserved because they constitute an environmental and cultural heritage, noting that the park’s design prioritises sustainability by preserving existing trees.
“The new recreational centre will make Kwale town more alluring with positive impacts on the mental and overall well-being of residents and visitors alike,” she said.
She went further: “The new recreational park will aid the beautification projects in Kwale municipality, which is part of the elaborate urban renewal plan of my administration.”
She said parks are important to urban environments, residents, and visitors besides providing environmental services such as air purification.
“We will conserve the environment around the park for sustainability, tranquillity, and splendour and provide a green ambience for all,” she said, emphasising the joy and excitement it will bring to families and visitors.
The coastal county boss stated that the devolved government has come up with urban green spaces to increase the quality of the urban environment and provide recreational opportunities to residents.
The new park boasts landscaping, walking track, food court, cabro paving, free high-speed public Wi-Fi to enable visitors’ access to internet services, and the installation of streetlights.
Other facilities include toilets, dedicated play areas for toddlers, open-air gyms, jogging, and cycling tracks.
Achani says she made tourism development a major agenda of her administration, noting that the new park will position Kwale town as the preferred destination for business, investment, tourism, and living.
“The new ultramodern recreational park will be an integrated urban picturesque destination for tourism, culture, festivals, dining, and relaxation,” she said.
Achani says the main objective of the open space management in urban centres was to, among other things, establish eco-friendly open spaces that are safe, attractively designed, and well managed for the benefit of communities.
Governor Achani says the devolved government will come up with many recreational parks and open green spaces in the subcounties in order to provide play and recreational facilities for the people.
By Hussein Abdullahi
