Victoria Kaapanda
OSHAKATI – The Caribbean Recreational Park, the oldest park in Oshakati, which has fallen into a dilapidated state for almost 20 years, was officially opened on Saturday after it was revamped for N$3.6 million by the town council.
The facility, which will be managed by Aishaa Investment CC on behalf of the Oshakati town council, offers swimming classes, chess, tennis, volleyball and netball courts.
The facility also has a restaurant on its premises. Minister of industrialisation Lucia Iipumbu officially opened the facility, saying higher quality recreation facilities promote physical activity and serve communities.
“Public parks are specifically designated for leisure activity. These venues are generally available to everyone, and they are a sanctioned place to engage in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity,” she said.
She said the question of whether park renovation increases physical activity can be partly addressed by studying what happens when local communities improve and renovate recreation facilities as their older ones deteriorate and no longer fully meet the needs of constituents.
“New facilities, like this one, are more attractive and will provide new opportunities for leisure activities and events; they will be more appreciated, more utilised, and they bring greater benefit to the community.
She said with the increased concern about the epidemic of obesity, there is an even greater expectation that improved recreation facilities would improve physical activity and community health.
The Oshakati town council chairperson of the management committee, Hofeni Mutota, explained that the revamping of the recreational facility is to keep the young people busy and away from the streets.
“We are very much optimistic that we can create more recreational facilities in Oshakati, especially in the new suburb, which has no recreational facilities or sports grounds,” he said.
Mutota said the town council has started with the construction of a recreational park at Ekuku, for which phase one of fencing off the area is already completed.
He added the second phase, which involves lawn installation, will be completed soon. Despite the council’s effort to have recreational facilities in all the suburbs, it is unable to do so due to financial constraints.
The council is, therefore, requesting business people to venture into the construction of recreational parks, and to come forward and present their recreational facility ideas to the council for the land to be made available to them.
The director of Aishaa Investment CC, Steven Nangolo, said the park’s renovation would help create an atmosphere of coming together without discrimination, and cultivate the spirit of togetherness.
“I urge the inhabitants to use this park wisely and keep it as it is forever,” he added.