Due to a high rate of development, Georgetown, the capital city of the Cayman Islands, lacks sufficient urban parkland. At the same time, there is also a lack of facilities for the city’s growing teenage population. Seacology is supporting the construction of the youth center in exchange for the establishment of a seven-acre park in Georgetown.
Conservation benefit: Creation of a 7-acre park
Community benefit: Construction of a youth center
Date Approved: 07.2003
Project Updates
June 2006
Chairman Paul Cox visited this project in December 2005. The center and park sustained damage from September 2004’s Hurricane Ivan. While repairs to the youth center were completed, work on the park has been delayed due to lack of additional funding. The John Gray Recyclers is applying for other funding sources to help it complete work on the park.
July 2005
The center sustained damage to its roof and was flooded during September 2004’s Hurricane Ivan. Many trees in the seven-acre park were destroyed. Project coordinator Pastor Al Ebanks reports that repairs to the center will be completed by the end of the year. John Gray High School was badly damaged by the hurricane. The youth center is acting as a temporary home to several classes until repairs to the school are completed. The John Gray Recyclers (a youth group from John Gray High School which donated funds for the Naikorokoro, Fiji kindergarten project) are helping replace and plant new trees. Repairs to the youth center are scheduled to take place in mid-2005 after the temporarily housed students move back to the restored high school.
July 2004
The youth center was constructed and dedicated in September 2003. The seven-acre park surrounding the youth center was planted with several endemic fruit trees and plants. A local architect has volunteered to design the park and garden. These designs are scheduled to be completed within the next few months.
