Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani has launched a Sh30 million recreational public park project in Kwale town, the County headquarters.
The site of the park has been the venue of national day celebrations and other important occasions for decades and the objective behind this initiative is to make the headquarter town a “modern, equitable and a sustainable town”.
Governor Achani said the proposed Baraza Park would boast landscaping, walking track, food court, cabro paving, free high-speed Wi-Fi to enable visitors’ access internet services and installation of streetlights project within Kwale town.
She said the devolved unit has just begun to build an urban green space to increase the quality of the urban environment and provide recreational opportunities to residents.
Other facilities include toilets, dedicated play areas for toddlers, open-air gyms jogging and cycling tracks.
She said the park would also allow residents seeking services from county and national government offices a conducive waiting recreational spot adding that recreational areas were great places for communities to come together, get to know each other and just enjoy the outdoors.
She said the proposed Baraza Park hosts many old indigenous trees that would be preserved because they constitute an environmental and cultural heritage.
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, tranquility and splendor and provide a green ambience for all,” she said.
She went on, “The new park will be an integrated urban picturesque destination for tourism, culture, festivals, dining and relaxation”.
She said the main objective of the open space management in urban centres was to amongst other things establish eco-friendly open spaces that are safe, attractively designed, well managed for the benefit of communities.
The county boss said the management of the modern park shall come under the purview of the Kwale Municipality noting that the proposed park would not only improve the ecology but also the overall quality of life for the residents.
Accompanied by her Deputy Chirema Kombo, Achani stated that her administration was committed to develop Kwale town in a planned manner.
She called on the people to make use of the modern facilities and informed that all the main parks in the county would also be modernised to ensure a pleasant atmosphere for the people.
Achani underscored the need to protect, maintain and preserve public designated places to promote social cohesion and improve the quality of life of the people.
“We will continue to establish and develop public parks in various urban centres to promote healthy, recreational attractions for families,” she said adding parks would spur businesses and other economic activities in the region.
Governor Achani said the park is a great next milestone for the county integrating the natural environment that would be enjoyed for many years to come by residents and visitors.
By Hussein Abdullahi
