Boardwalk a big hit

 

The majority of people enjoying the facility the day I visited were families. Parents with their two daughters played with plastic inflatable toys near the water’s edge. A man sat with his laptop enjoying free Internet access as a little girl at his feet played with brightly coloured plastic buckets and shovels. A short distance away, a mother gathered pebbles and seashells with her daughter. With the approach of sunset, more visitors arrived, including young couples. A young woman held hands with her boyfriend as they strolled along the boardwalk. A photographer followed a middle-aged couple, snapping photos with the water providing the perfect background. “I’ve been to the boardwalk in New York, and minus the rides and other forms of entertainment, this isn’t a far cry from it. It’s relaxing to just sit on the deck and let your feet touch the water,” said Shalini Mohammed. Mohammed and her husband Rishi drove from Carapichaima to visit the boardwalk after learning about it from a news programme.

 

 

Wicome John, a CDA litter prevention and security officer, said in the weeks since the boardwalk opened there have been large crowds. “This is only a handful of people. There are evenings when people come to rollerblade, or couples come to picnic here,”  he said. “I love it here,” said 72-year-old Lily Rahaman. Since the boardwalk was opened she has exercised there five times a week.

“I think it is a wonderful idea. I like to see all of the young couples strolling along. It’s so pleasant. “My husband sits and waits because he can’t walk, but he loves the sea breeze,” Rahaman said. Four of the six vendors’ booths  at the boardwalk were opened when I visited, selling fried foods, gyros, snacks and snocones. Vendor Sabitha Sutherland said business has been slow except for on weekends. “I don’t feel 100 per cent safe—but compared to before, it is a lot safer,” she said.