Saturday 23 May 2015

Waiting in Church Village Green


In the middle of the bustling city of Bridgetown, there is a park....a park so serene and zen-like, that it's hard to believe that it can exist in the chaos that is the island's capital.


Church Village Green
Opened March 15, 2014
Waiting on my daughter one day last week (Thursday to be exact), I had the opportunity to explore this oasis and linger in its caress of serenity for a little while.

Beautiful cobblestone walkways

Wooden pergolas with stone work columns.
Lovely pergolas to sit and relax and enjoy the surroundings.
Old replicas of historic coins adorn the cobblestone walkway.
Yes, that's my foot!!

1788 Penny replica with a spelling of Barbadoes not Barbados.

A footbridge leads to Queen's Park.
The lighting throughout the park is fully powered by solar.
There is also a rainwater harvesting system in place.

The bridge stands over a pond with water lilies....

....and other aquatic plants



A scenic green space in the middle of the vibrant city of Bridgetown.


Breadfruit tree (Artocarpus altilis)

Beware of falling breadfruits...Do not stand under the trees.
The Central Bank of Barbados in the background.
Tranquility......tranquility.......tranquility.

The outdoor amphitheatre where cultural shows are held.


The park is in good company sandwiched between St. Michael's Cathedral, the Central Bank of Barbados and Queen's Park.
This Church Village area was once home to many Bajan homes, and there are replicas of the old doors that adorned the chattel houses that once resided here.





The park is closely monitored 24-hours by closed-circuit television from the Central Bank and also the Royal Barbados Police Force.


On the upper ledge of the amphitheatre looking across the way.



A peaceful respite from the noise of the city.



I'm thinking of attending one of the cultural shows in the future....it's a great venue.



Benches incorporated into large limestone boulders.

Shady breezy areas to sit and linger a while....and wait.

City green

Eric Smith,
Added 02 February 2014
02centralbankpark7976

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- See more at: http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/6873/city-green#sthash.vbGXON3C.dpuf

City green

Eric Smith,
Added 02 February 2014
02centralbankpark7976

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BY THE END of next month, two projects designed to help with the revitalization of Bridgetown should be completed. The Church Village Redevelopment Project and the Constitution River Drainage Improvement Project are both 95 per cent completed, and contractors should be off the site by the end of this month. This is the word from Stuart Layne, chief executive officer of the Barbados Tourism Investment Inc., which has responsibility for these developments, which have already captured the fancy of people. The multimillion-dollar project at Church Village, which started last April 24 includes an amphitheatre to accommodate 199 sitting and more than 1 000 standing, and a green space. Other features within the green space will be a pond and a causeway, which will have a bridge to connect Queen’s Park, Church Village, the Masonic Lodge and the Central Bank’s courtyard. The Park is to be powered fully by solar energy and monitored 24 hours a day by closed-circuit television from the Central Bank and also the Royal Barbados Police Force. The project at Church Village has transformed what was once a dilapidated area, making it aesthetically appealing. The area has already seen the restoration of the historic building which was the first Harrison College and subsequently served as the home of the Masonic lodge for many years. The work being undertaken by the  Cathedral of St Michael and All Angels is expected to complement the physical upgrade of the area. The river project, which is to help control flooding in Bridgetown, will also have other environmental benefits, but also faces a hurdle given the high level of plastic waste ending up there as a result of indiscriminate dumping upstream. On the project’s completion, there will be improvement in the channel capacity, reduction in flooding, enhancement of water quality and the general City environment. The drainage improvement began in July 2012 and extensive boulder armouring has been undertaken since then along with the deepening of the channel to allow for greater flow through the river into the Careenage. A significant aspects of the project is the integration of a natural habitat and wetlands for local and migratory birds. Dr Karl Watson, president of the Barbados National Trust, noted that the Careenage was an area that attracted a variety of species, including very rare birds, that feed and ferret there. “This is a tremendous plus for Barbados; it is something tangible for the environment. We’ll get positive publicity,” he said.   Watson applauded the projects, adding that “[those involved] have been good stewards” by their actions. The projects have been financed by the Government and the Caribbean Development Bank. It is expected that a number of business opportunities will develop out of both redevelopment projects.
- See more at: http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/6873/city-green#sthash.vbGXON3C.dpuf
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2 comments:

  1. Graham Edwards28 May 2015 at 07:48

    That is beautiful. Tranquility in the midst of a city is so good for the soul and allows battery re-charging. A completely different but equally tranquil Japanese garden exists in Sydney and it's possible completely to lose oneself whilst one is in it. In Victorian times the city fathers of many UK cities were good at ensuring that there were many parks and gardens in their cities but they are now being gradually eroded in many places.

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    1. VirginiaC10 January 2016 at 07:21

      I am now seeing your comment GB...wow how remiss of me.
      I would love to visit the Japanese Garden in Sydney, it sounds beautiful and just my cup of tea....maybe one of these good old days.
      You are right about the parks and gardens being eroded in the city...so sad.

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