The center, which houses a 6-aside football park, children’s playground, and other important facilities, came courtesy of Kanifing Environmental Transformation Programme (KETP) project, funded by the European Union.
The handing-over ceremony attracted personalities from the Kanifing Municipal Council, youth and a cross-section of the community.
At the handing over ceremony, Lamin Sanyang, Project Manager of KETP, underscored the project’s commitment to supporting the community of Kotu in the proper management and sustainability of the park.
Sanyang applauded the young people of the community for the immense job they rendered in making the project a success.
“I am very impressed with the work these youths have done. They developed their strategies on how to manage the park. As the project management team, we are handing over. However, we will do our utmost to support you and ensure the management and sustainability go accordingly.”
For his part, Lamin Jammeh, Kotu Ward Councilor, thanked the project management and its partners for what he described as the first ever initiative of its kind done by the council.
Councilor Jammeh re-echoed the importance of the center and urged both the park management committee and inhabitants within the community to work closely for the greater good of Kotu.
The park, he added, is for the community, and they need to work on it.
“KETP has done its work and now it is left to us. We need to make sure we sustain this park so that it can deter children from going to the seaside.”
Lamin Kuyateh, youth representative from Kotu community, underscored the role of the park in any development and called on the committee to ensure its proper management to serve its purpose.
He also highlighted the role of elders in the area in reserving the space they now have as a recreational center.
“Giving us the park is one thing, but to be able to keep it is another thing. As a team, we want more than what the project has given us in the park. We won’t only stop at sustainability; we want to improve the park. Looking at the proximity of the park to the road, there are a lot of benefits that we can tap from it.”
The park, he went on, can be used as a business center which he said, will also enable them to generate revenue that can be used to maintain the park.
Other speakers include Kemo Bojang, Youth Councillor, Binta Janneh, Deputy Mayor, Pa Sait Ceesay, Chief Executive Officer, and Women's representative.
The recreational facility will provide the community of Kotu with numerous opportunities geared towards reducing unemployment, providing avenues for young people as well as generate income for the upkeep of the facility.
