Sunset Beach recreation park will be accessible to everyone in 2023.
Soon the Bonerian community will have a new recreation park located at Sunset Beach. According to the director of Bonaire Holding Maatschappij/Bonaire Government Buildings (BOG), Mrs. Adely Susana-Jansen, this park offers recreational opportunities for visitors of all ages, facilities aimed at accessibility for wheelchair users, and modern sustainable facilities. Sunset Beach will be built between Chogogo Resort and Den Laman Condominiums. Provided there are no setbacks, the park will be ready and accessible to the public within ten months.
BOG has taken all necessary steps to create a recreation park at Sunset Beach that complies with both the local legislation and the expectations of the various future users. According to BHM & BOG director, Mrs. Adely Susana-Jansen, the project aims to create a recreation park, especially for the Bonairean population. That is why they sat down with different target groups who ultimately contributed ideas and support.
Recreational facilities and accessibility
To develop the right children’s facilities, the organization Jantje Beton was approached to find out what the Bonairean children would like to see in the park. The children mainly indicated that they wanted something with water. “We respond to the wishes of the children and come up with a facility that focuses on water,” said director Susana-Jansen during the presentation. BHM also met with MIVABO and the Society and Care department. Our elderly and visitors who have difficulty walking have also been considered. They can move anywhere in the park as it will be completely accessible. There will also be dedicated parking spaces and a wheelchair ramp for people with disabilities who want to go into the sea.
Beach visitors can also use a BBQ facility, toilets, palapas, and kiosks where food and drinks will be sold at the new recreation park. The park will also have a WiFi connection. A slipway will be created for fishermen or water recreationists to launch or remove their boats from the water safely.
The population’s well-being and health are also considered. BHM builds facilities that should encourage visitors to do sports exercises. With this in mind, various sports equipment will create a fitness facility.
Landscaping Management with recycled water
The entire park will be provided with different plant species such as ‘Silver bottom,’ ‘Flamboyan,’ and ‘Banana di ref’ trees, all of which will contribute to a more pleasant temperature for visitors. The intention is that the green areas will be irrigated with the recycled sewage water. State-of-the-art lights and smart cameras will also be installed to support park security and better manage running costs.
Instead of asphalt, an open surface will be created for, among other things, rainwater drainage. The design also considers the surrounding nature and what the legislation indicates regarding sand in the area. “We have met all the required sand certifications and received the necessary permits from a recognized company. All in all, we had to submit more than ten different applications to be able to realize this project,” says director Adely Susana-Jansen.
The main contractor collaborating on this project and supervising the work is Bonairiaanse Wegenbouw Maatschappij (BWM). BMW is hiring local subcontractors who will focus on the various parts of the park that will be developed in the near future. Heren2 is the architect of the design for Sunset Beach.
(Source: Bonaire Holding Maatschappij N.V.)
