San Fernando is the second largest city in Trinidad
located in the south western portion of the island with a population of
approximately 62,000. It has rich history dating back to the 1780’s when the
Spanish governor of Trinidad, Jose Maria Chacon, granted the area to a settler
to establish a sugar estate, on the condition that a portion is set aside to
establish a town. In 1792 a small settlement was formed and the governor
declared it as the town of San Fernando. It continued to grow and by the year
1846, obtained a town council. The status then rose from a town to a borough in
1853 where Robert Johnstone became the first mayor of San Fernando.
San Fernando continued to develop over the years and
by 1899 permission was granted to run telephone lines, plans for a library approved
in 1913 where construction began in 1917 and a connection of the railway
between San Fernando and Siparia took place in 1913. In 1919 San Fernando
received electricity for the first time, 28 years after Port of Spain pushing
development even further. Development was slow but constant throughout the
years until the “oil boom” in the 1970’s and 1980’s which led to an increased
growth.
The picture above shows the Harris promenade which
was named after the governor of Trinidad 1846-1850. It is located in the heart
of the city where it is a hub for recreational activities and relaxation. The
trees planted give a peaceful ambiance and many people use it to take a break
from the daily hustles. According to (Al-Hagla and S. 2010) promenades are major constituents of
entertainment tourism cities and their contribution to livability adds value to
the entertainment qualities these cities have.
The promenade was constructed in such a way
that it is easily accessed by the public as it located in the heart of the
city. The colours used for the benches are vibrant thus attracting people to
visit the area. The trees planted keep the promenade cool and provide shade
reducing a phenomenon known as the “heat island” effect. This involves the
higher temperatures of urban areas than surrounding rural areas.
The monument in the picture above is of Marcus
Garvey, a Jamaican political leader and prominent member of the pan African
movement and founded the Universal
Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League. Upon or visit to
the promenade on Saturday 2nd of April work was being done as shown
in the picture below. They are currently trying to improve the promenade and
caution tape surrounds a great portion of the promenade.
References:
Al-Hagla, and Khalid
S. "The Role of the Liveable Promenade in Revitalizing an Entertainment
Tourism City: The Case of Sharm El-Shaikh, Egypt." International
Journal of Architectural Research, 2010.
Biography.com
Editors. Biography.com.
http://www.biography.com/people/marcus-garvey-9307319 (accessed 2016).
cityseeker. 2016.
http://trinidad-and-tobago.cityseekr.com/venue/288494-harris-promenade.
Trinidad and Tobago
Newsday .
http://newsday.co.tt/news/0,169412.html.
TriniView.com. 2007.
http://www.triniview.com/san_fernando/040507.html (accessed 2015).
udecott. 2016.
http://udecott.com/projects/harris-promenade-development/
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