Built to commemorate the ending of slavery in Jamaica, this seven-acre property caters to the recreational needs of Kingston’s residents. 

One of the best-kept parks on the island set the standard for public spaces. It shows that Jamaicans can build and maintain significant monuments without foreign aid. 

The seven national heroes’ busts and placks highlight their exploits, reminding people of their strength and courage. Their presence reminds us of where we are coming from and our potential. It’s the perfect place to rejuvenate and get some inspiration when feeling down. 

A running turf and open space for games and exercise show the island’s love of sports and athletics. 

An open-air stage provides a space for practice and showcasing the island’s music and performing arts. Perfect for exposing and developing the next superstar.

Freedom, the love of nature, a hallmark of the country, reflects in the wide-open space, flowers, and trees, which attract beautiful songbirds giving the feeling of a true tropical paradise—the only thing missing is the beach. 

The Emancipation Park started with the Liguanea Club in New Kingston. They donate seven acres of land to the government of Jamaica. It was undeveloped for many years while the government decided what to do with such prime real estate. 

Some government members wanted a business district; others suggested a multipurpose entertainment complex. 

Liguanea Park, its last name, was a dust nuisance; apart from the occasional football (soccer) matches and seasonal carnival fete, nothing much was done there. It was an eyesore in New Kingston. 

Not having the capital to put any of their plans in place, the government turned to the National Housing Trust (NHT). They sold the property for JA$1, on condition that they build and maintain a public park, reflecting the theme of emancipation and freedom. 

The NHT had three months to complete this project for the emancipation celebration on August 1, 2002. They built a world-class facility with the expertise of architect Kamau Kambui and a large team of workers. The opening ceremony for Emancipation Park in Jamaica took place on July 31, 2002. 

A central theme in the design of Emancipation Park is that freedom from slavery is acknowledged in many ways. The most apparent of these is the controversial “Redemption Song” statue at the entrance to the park, bearing the line, ‘None but ourselves can free our mind. 

Emancipation Park Garden

You can do many things at Emancipation Park in Jamaica; below are some highlights of things people do at the park. 

Kingston is very hot, especially in summer; the park has many benches and shade where you can chill. You can meet up with friends or sit and enjoy the cool breeze. It’s one of the safest places in the city and has security. 

Bench at Emancipation Park

Live shows take place regularly at the park. The stage and wide-open space make it perfect. Depending on when you visit, you might catch a live reggae show or a promotional event. It’s a public space, so you enter free of charge. 

With everybody being health-conscious, it’s common to see Kingstonians running on the 500m trail. Many people come to the park just to run. The surface is covered with a soft material, which makes it comfortable to use.

Early mornings or late afternoon is the best time to jog if you cannot tolerate the heat. It is safe so you can even go at night. The park opens from 5 am to 11 pm, so it’s easy to fit into your schedule. 

Running trail at Emancipation Park in Jamaica

On any given day, you will see people exercising at the park. It is a popular spot for fitness trainers who want open space to work with their clients. On some days, there are instructors giving dance lessons. Yoga and karate are some activities that take place there. 

The children also have a play area with bars and swings. Adults can also use it for callisthenic. 

Playing Ping Pong is an excellent way to exercise. Emancipation park caters to that with two ping pong tables, which are always occupied, especially in the evening. 

Hop Scotch, a fun children’s activity, is also done at the park. 

Ping Pong tables at Emancipation Park Hopscotch at the park

Emancipation Park is the perfect backdrop for wedding pictures. It is popular with newlyweds. Weekends usually are busy with couples doing wedding photoshoots. The beautiful flowers, tree manicured lawns are perfect for striking a pose. 

Emancipation Park Garden Emancipation Park Emancipation Park Garden

Bird variety may not be numerous as Hope Garden, but there are enough to entertain you. Hearing birds singing in the trees is soothing. You feel like you are in the mountains, in the middle of the city.  

A bust of the National heroes with placks telling how Jamaica got to this point is hard to miss. Next to the redemption statue at the entrance, they are the most prominent feature of the park. Without the island’s liberators, there wouldn’t be an Emancipation Park in Jamaica. So it is only natural that they are featured prominently. However, visiting the National Heroes Park would be perfect for a better display of the island’s national heroes. 

Nanny Jamaica’s National Hero National hero Marcus Garvey National hero Paul Bogle

These are some well-known places that are near Emancipation Park.

Liguanea Club – Hotel and exclusive membership sports club  

Mariot Hotel 

Jamaica Hilton,

Pegasus Hotel,

The Wyndham 

Four Season Hotel, 

Spanish Court Hotel, 

AC Hotel  

Marriott Country hotel next to Emancipation Park

These hotels also have upscale restaurants where persons not staying on the property can eat.

Triple Century Sports Bar, 

Chelsea Jerk Center, 

Sweetwood Jerk Center, 

Devon House Ice Cream- 15 to 20 minutes walk from Emancipation Park. 

Sub Zero Ice Cream.

New Kingston Shopping Center

Sagicor Pedestrian Mall

The post The Best Guide To Emancipation Park In Kingston appeared first on EDB Travel.

In 1981 after his death from cancer, the government of Jamaica commissioned the creation of the Bob Marley statue. Christopher Gonzales got the task, but the people rejected his design unveiled in 1983. They thought it was more an interpretation of how the artist saw Bob Marley rather than an accurate representation. The distorted image of Bob Marley Emerging from a tree trunk upset many people. Because it looked like he was wearing a dress, they threw objects at the statue to show their displeasure.

Alvin Marriott, an accomplished Jamaican sculptor who created Herb Mackenly’s statue, got the job of making a new sculpture to portray the legend accurately.
In 1985 at the World Youth Festival Of Arts opening held in Kingston, Prime Minister Edward Seaga unveiled the new statue of Jamaica’s most famous son.

Bob Marley Statue A view of the Bob Marley statue from the back. A different view Bob Marley statue at Independence Park in Jamaica Front View

You can find this statue at Independence Park in Kingston at Arthur Wint Drive and Herb Mckenly drive. Nearby on Statute Drive in front of the National Stadium are monuments of Jamaica’s Track and Field superstars_ Usain Bolt, the most prominent.

Bob Marley’s statue is accessible to the public free of charge. However, it is not frequented by tourists because of its location. The Bob Marley Museum is a more popular spot with tours from the north coast. However, it is easy to get there if you are in Kingston and the area is safe.

The post The Best Guide To Bob Marley Statue In Kingston appeared first on EDB Travel.

Our national heroes and patriots must be angry seeing the country showing little appreciation for the freedoms we now enjoy after sacrificing so much for us to have a better life. They must be rolling in their graves.

It was always on my list of places in Jamaica to visit because I was curious; I wanted to see how they honored the national heroes. I didn’t know it was open to the public, or I would have gone there a long time ago; others might also think the same.

After writing a post about the Emancipation Park in New Kingston, one of the best parks on the island, I decided to compare to see if Heroes Park is of the same standard. So I made the trek.

Heroes Park Walkway

A brief history of The National Heroes Park 

Before Jamaica’s independence, the area was one of the most popular spots in Kingston. It was the venue for many celebrations, including the Emancipation celebrations on August 1, 1838, to mark the end of the apprenticeship also Queen Victoria’s golden and diamond jubilees in 1887 and 1897.

 For 100 years, the land was the center for horse racing in Jamaica. It was 1953, also the site for other sporting activities such as cricket and cycle racing. Being a place where people naturally gathered, the area was also the venue for traveling circuses that visited the island.

In 1818, the Kingston Council purchased the property for £985 and 10 shillings. Back then, it was part of a property called Montgomery Pen. It was later known as the Kingston Race Course because of its dominant activity and remained so until 1953 when horse racing moved to Knutsford Park (New Kingston).

They officially renamed the site National Heroes Park in 1973 and are now a permanent place for honoring Jamaica’s heroes, with monuments erected in an area known as the Shrine. Another section, reserved for former Prime Ministers and outstanding patriots, adjoins the Shrine area.

Map of Heroes Park monuments and tombs

What I saw at the National Heroes Park. 

It never occurs to me that the road that runs along the park forms a big circle, thus Heroes Circle. Trying to find the best entry point, the light bulb suddenly when off.

For a site of such national importance, it wasn’t enjoyable to see. Apart from the Shrine, which hosts the monuments honoring the national heroes and the burial ground for Prime Ministers and distinguished Jamaicans, the property is an eyesore.

I expected carpet-like grass, but I saw a brownish lawn battling the King

ston heat to maintain relevance. An adequately irrigated ground would bring the place to life. In contrast, the gardens lining the walkways flourish. They seem to contain the spirits of the ancestors, fighting and hoping for a better future.

Most parts are dusty and not well maintained. Nearby government offices use a small section for parking. There is a football(soccer) field and a multipurpose court. The unfinished perimeter fencing around the 50-acre property looked promising and would have done wonders to the park’s esthetics.

The monuments honoring the former Prime Ministers and those remembering the national heroes are impressive. Their size and artistic design symbolized a deeper meaning—each unique and reflects aspects of their lives. It shows that we have the potential to create top-notch monuments.

Redevelopment plans for Downtown Kingston include the Nation Heroes Park, which also is the site for a new parliament building. I am looking forward to when those plans materialized because there are have huge potential to attract tourist and provide employment for the surrounding communities.

Monument to Donald Sangster Monument Honoring Hugh Lawson Shearer Monument Honoring Michael Manley

What to do at the National Heroes Park 

• Large trees protecting you from the sun and the cool breeze coming from Kingston’s harbor make the National Heroes Park a perfect place to relax.
• With pedestrian traffic low, reading or meditating will be undisturbed.
• Although the lawn is not the best quality, some areas are perfect for picnics with family or friends. 
• It is a perfect place to learn about Jamaica’s national heroes and their contribution to the country. 
• The design of the monuments and tombs is of the best quality. It highlights the skills of Jamaican artists and builders. 
• Sample Jamaica street food at Heroes Circle roast and boiled corn, boiled crabs, and roast breadfruit. 

Monument honoring Jamaicans who died in world war 1 & 2

Jamaica’s National Heroes buried at the National Heroes Park. 

Of Jamaica’s seven national heroes, they buried only three at Heroes Park, the Right Honorable Marcus Garvey, Norman Washington Manley, and Sir Alexander Bustamante. The others all have monuments honoring them_ Nanny of the Maroons, Paul Bogle, George William Gordon, and Sam Sharpe.

Marcus Garvey Bust at National Heroes Park Marcus Garvey Tomb National Hero Norman Washington Manley Burial Site Sculptor at Edna Manley tomb ArtWork at Norman Manley and Edna Manley Tomb Jamaica National Hero Sir Alexander Bustamante monument Sam Sharpe Monument Monument Honoring Jamaica National Hero Nanny of the Maroons Monument Honoring George William Gordon and Paul Bogle

Is the Park safe? 

Although near volatile communities, Heroes Park is safe to visit. The Jamaica Defence Force honor guard has a base there, and soldiers also patrolled the area. Depending on the day you visit or the occasion, you will see them standing guard or perform their ceremonial duties.  

I cannot recall hearing of any crime taking place inside the park, and research of publication from the island’s newspapers came up empty. 

An interesting observation at the Jamaica National Heroes Park

Norman Washington Manley’s wife Edna Manley and Sir Alexander Bustamante’s wife Gladys Maud Bustamante are buried beside them. These women contributed significantly to Jamaica’s development, in supporting roles, and also by themselves.

Edna Manley was a distinguished artist and educator; Jamaica’s only College of the Arts bears her name. Gladys Bustamante, or Lady B, was a Jamaican workers’ and women’s rights activist, also a prominent trade unionist.

Sir Alexander Bustamante and Most Hon. Lady Bustamante Tomb

I am puzzled and disappointed to learn that nothing is there to honor one of Jamaica’s most famous sons, Robert Nesta Marley OM. His contribution to reggae music and Jamaica is enormous, yet no formal recognition at the site for distinguished Jamaicans. His statue at the national stadium is excellent, but they should honor him among the heroes.

Conclusion 

Jamaica National Heroes Park should be on your list of places to visit in Kingston. It’s an exciting place to learn about Jamaica’s history and culture. Although not of the same standard as Hope Garden or Emancipation Park, one could understand it is an enormous job to maintain a 50-acre property.

Some people who sacrificed their entire lives serving the country are honored there. It is the resting place for Louise Simone Bennett-Coverley or Miss Lou OM, OJ, MBE. She puts the authentic Jamaican language on the international stage. The crown prince of reggae Dennis Emanuel Brown CD, is also buried there among other distinguished Jamaicans. The man responsible for igniting the flames of resistance in many modern black leaders and Jamaica’s first National Hero, Marcus Mosiah Garvey ONH tomb, is on-site.

Apart from learning about history, Jamaica National Heroes Park is a great place to chill and get away from Kingston’s heat. The site is not of world-class standard, but there are plans to redevelop the area.

Next time you are in Kingston, trek over to the National Heroes Park. 

General Antonio Maceo Grajales was second-in-command of the Cuban army of independence. His bust is located outside the Shrine at Jamaica National Heroes Park.

The post Jamaica National Heroes Park In Kingston appeared first on EDB Travel.