Dear Editor,
Passing D’urban Park a few days ago after quite some time, I was shocked at the deplorable, unsightly condition to which it has descended. Transformed into a hotel of sorts for the homeless and less desirable elements, all of the wooden structures are now variously warped, dilapidated, and rotting, fit to be pulled down.
With the development of the D’urban Park area being an idea that has been around for quite some time, the current structures were built during the former APNU administration to serve the surrounding communities, more like a community center for hosting events and general recreation.
The change in administration in 2020 apparently brought about the beginning of the end for the larger vision for its development. In retrospect, the entire project seems to reflect ideas of cooperative development long past, absent evolving technology, reflecting more the haphazard assembly of buildings complete with fencing for a farm that would need, in this case, more than a bit of repairs and maintenance, since it seems the type of wood, and design and construction did not take into consideration the natural elements.
Having come to appreciate the importance and enormous benefits of fitness and sports in general to the welfare of society, I would like to propose that the entire D’urban Park be converted into a multi-faceted, multi-disciplinary Fitness and Sports Center, possibly incorporating some of the indoor features of the National Gymnasium.
Stripping the Park of all its present structures would provide more than ample room for a three-hundred-meter track, with the possibility of a larger one going around the entire park, a Cross-fit Section comprising a network of cross bars and other durable equipment, two basketball courts and two football courts, along with a cricket pitch, complete with seating accommodation and sanitary facilities for the various sections.
The project’s size would necessitate professional landscaping to obtain maximum utilization of the available space. The facilities should also be built to last. Naturally, the completed project would require 24-hour security.
The obvious benefits of such a proposal are the opportunities for the surrounding and outlying communities to adopt healthier lifestyles long-term, which challenge them physically and build competitive attitudes and strong minds as Guyana strives to keep pace with the ongoing massive development, which will continue for quite some time to come.
I suggest now is as good a time as any to capitalize on our good fortunes as we all look for development across our communities. As I have said before, our future is now.[1]