The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) and its main funding partner the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), on Friday, February 22, 2019 broke ground for the state of the art Closed Harbour Beach Park Development at its future home at Closed Harbour (known as Dump Up Beach) in Montego Bay St. James.
The project forms a part of the UDC’s Montego Bay Redevelopment Programme which will see the conversion of the 16-acre property into a world class recreational space with amenities that will allow for it to operate as a free access licenced public beach. The project which is estimated at a cost of JMD $1.296 billion is anticipated for completion within 18 months with main funding provided by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF).
According to the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, “the Closed Harbour Beach Park development is one which signifies the integrated and inclusive development which is required for the achievement of Vision 2030. He remarked “this development will not surpass the people of Jamaica but rather will work with and for them following on the economic and sociocultural impact which the park will provide.
Hailing the project as “the continuation of the reimaging of Montego Bay”, Honourable Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism in his remarks noted that significant contribution to domestic tourism will be ushered in through the development of the park as the first obligation to the people of Jamaica will not be ignored as they will claim the park as their own.
Senator Ransford Braham, Chairman UDC, who expounded on the scope of the project, noted that upon transformation, the property will see widening of the sidewalk and new perimeter fencing along Gloucester Avenue and Howard Cooke Boulevard while the interior of the park will feature a Beach Futsal & Multi-Purpose court, Kids Play Area, Food Kiosks and Outdoor Dining Area.
Dr Carey Wallace, Executive Director, TEF assured that the agency is always willing to support projects of this nature particularly those which ensures the inclusion of ordinary Jamaicans in Jamaica’s development agenda.
The UDC’s involvement in Montego Bay has ranged from projects inclusive of the establishment of the Hip Strip, management of the Catherine Hall Entertainment Complex home of the iconic Reggae Sumfest, Montego Bay Convention Centre, Dualisation of Howard Cooke Boulevard, Montego Bay Sports Complex, provision of hundreds of educational spaces through the North Western Schools programme (includes Green Pond Infant, Primary, High, John Rollins Success Primary and Providence Heights Infant) and the creation of thousands of homes (West Green, Catherine Hall housing developments).
For further information, please contact:
The Corporate Relations and Marketing Department
Urban Development Corporation
12 Ocean Boulevard
Kingston, Jamaica
Tel 🙁 876) 656-8031
Email cr@udcja.com
Website: www.udcja.com/
www.facebook.com/urbandevelopmentcorporation