The Dart group and government celebrated a “reopening” of South Sound’s Dart Family Park with an afternoon of food, games, music and speeches.

The occasion, marked by bright skies and cool breezes, was anther of Dart’s local outreach efforts – dubbed “Growing Communities” — that has seen similar refurbishments in Scranton, Windsor Park, The Swamp, West Bay’s Scholar’s Park and, this week, South Sound.

Dart Communications Manager Lynn Smith-Moore said a series of other openings would follow in Bodden Town, North Side and East End. Unable to name dates, however, she said the company was seeking to coordinate the availability of district MLAs and government Ministers.

George Town MLA and Minister for Community Affairs Mike Adam addressed the Saturday crowd, which grew throughout the 12-4pm event, attracting at least 200 adults and children at its peak, enjoying face-painting; t-shirt colouring; a dancing clown creating animal balloons; the Cayman Traditional Arts table — operated by craftsman Deal Ebanks and artist Wray Banker – offering spinning ”gigs”, bulbous hand-carved tops revolving on a nail point; games of quarto; a disc jockey; and popcorn, snowcones, hamburgers and doughnuts.

“Parks are a critically important part of our community,” Mr Adam said, providing an “inexpensive and welcome retreat for families and a safe outdoor space for play“, that “encourages “healthy activity and serves as a gathering place for members of our community to connect with each other.”

Calling the refurbishment “a partnership between the public and private sectors”, he listed Dart’s improvements: new shade trees, new shrubs and flower beds, upgraded irrigation, front gates and lost bathroom fixtures and installation of lighting.

“Dart,” he said, “has agreed to maintain the park for the next five years. It’s up to all of us to take care of our community and embrace these spaces that nurture connections between friends and family.”

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