Gardens & Arboretum To Close For 3 Months
The Department of Parks said they are “reminding the public that the Botanical Gardens and the Arboretum are closed to the general public for health and safety reasons,” as they “sustained extensive tree and shrub damage as a result of Tropical Storm Fay and Hurricane Gonzalo.”
The Department said it is anticipated they will both be closed for 3 months
A spokesperson said, “The Department of Parks is reminding the public that the Bermuda Botanical Gardens and the Arboretum are closed to the general public for health and safety reasons.
“The Botanical Gardens, as well as the Arboretum, sustained extensive tree and shrub damage as a result of Tropical Storm Fay and Hurricane Gonzalo. Large specimen and mature trees have fallen and there are over hanging branches and debris still present throughout the grounds at both parks.
“Runners, walkers, dog handlers, and other users and visitors should avoid entering the grounds at the Botanical Gardens and the Arboretum due to the danger posed by the fallen trees and debris.
“The Gardens, as well as the Arboretum, are anticipated to be closed for 3 months and the Department of Parks is asking the public’s cooperation with the request to avoid entering both parks.
“The Botanical Gardens and Arboretum maintenance staff are working diligently to ensure that both parks can be safely re-opened to the public and our visitors.
“Persons carrying out official business to the Department of Parks and the Department of Environmental Protection have been asked to access the Botanical Gardens’ grounds via the gate off South Road directly across from Peace Lutheran Church. There is controlled access at this gate for this purpose.
“The Department of Parks apologizes for the inconvenience and the patience and understanding of the general public is greatly appreciated. If further information is required please contact the Department of Parks at 236-5902.”
For all our coverage of Hurricane Gonzalo click here, for our live blog on the aftermath of Hurricane Gonzalo click here, and for additional coverage on the impact of Gonzalo on our environment click here.
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In an island with such little public space for exercising – a three month closure is really not acceptable.
3 months…Dept of Parks is a joke. With over 165 staff this should take weeks if not days. No one will argue that a new Director of Parks is long overdue
Maybe the Parks Department will spend some time improving the overall condition of these parks. They were substandard prior to Fay and Gonzalo.
The good news is at least that nasty huge water tower in the Botanical Gardens looks like it took a hit during the hurricane. It’s obvious to anyone living in Bermuda that the quality of Parks and their work has gone down significantly in the last couple of years and need a big shake up from the top down
Agreed wholeheartedly.
Unnaceptable…OBA, get them sorted out please
Privatize The Parks Department.
Bring in the landscape (butchers) that chop down everything!!!! Botanical Gardens have specific trees and shrubs that have to be pruned, raised so they can survive. What we need is people who love taking care of plants. Come through BG any day and count how many workers you actually see working. All this privatize talk is garbage, you need specialist gardeners that know what they doing
The whole island is a mess and you people are here complaining about two parks being closed? Parks workers have been working hard since saturday morning cleaning up the whole island. people complain just to complain smh.
A three month closure doesn’t seem excessive to you though?
I don’t know which is funnier; the warning about dangerous fallen shrubs, or the fact that it will take them three months to pick it up.
Next they’ll want to close for deadly blowing grass clippings when the wind picks up.
Prior tot he storms I would have to agree a new Director is in order. There seems to be a lack of over all care on their part regarding the Gardens, and apparently the curator’s hand get tied far too often. People need to realize, that your roads are clear and passable because the Parks Dept. was out in force dealing with that mess, foregoing their own homes, and the unfortunately the Gardens. The Gardens have been extensively damaged!!Personally I think the 3 month might have been an extended time frame, and that they will be working hard to get them open sooner. A lot of the workers at the Gardens do enjoy their work, and are upset by the devastation that has been done to them. Keep in mind as well that overtime has been slashed across Government, the hurricane cleanup was an exception. So these parks will have to be put back together during regular hours.
Then they should hire outside landscapers and get it all done in a week. I agree they did a lot of good work during after the storms however they were being also paid and were making some good OT and that has only taken days…not month. The problem is everyone wants to take their time to hold out for OT pay that and all the vacation time and sick days that have to be taken. Come on OBA this is the easiest Dept. to outsource and will have a big $ saving for taxpayers
3 months…sad..go figure!
derp de derp!
Answer to many shrubs problem. Get many goats. You have no shrubs left. You left with only many goats. If many goats become problem, you wait for next hurricane. Then not many goats.
You can thank the oba for this
Ha!
Please keep in mind that the Parks Department are assisting throughout the island to cleanup after the hurricane.
On behalf of those who appreciate you; thank you Parks Department for all of your work thus far. Yes, we do frequent the Gardens for walks as well, and will miss going there, but we understand that you only have so many hands to assist.
People the best way to get the job done quicker is to assist in the cleanup. If we see a branch/debris down in the road and you can safely pick it up then please do so. We can be a part of the solution not add to the frustration!
Thank you Parks, Fire, Police, Belco and all those in the community community who have assisted in the cleanup throughout every parish.
Ouch!
This is sad!
How did you get a lovely picture like that?
I just hope they are careful and don’t just chop everything down as I have seen in other parts of the island. I would suspect they would be more careful there…just hope so.
You guys come on here to talk foolishness it is not gonna take 3 months to clean the aboreutum they over estimated the time. It will be done by next month, there are alot of trees down and only 8 people cleaning the aboreutum and they are doing the best they can. So please give credit yo parks workers because they are doing a lot of work
Bring in private landscapers,they work.
Hopefully companies and other groups on island might consider community days where their staff/ volunteers assist in re-opening the parks. A worthwhile cause, a great exercise in team building as well as personally beneficial.
Time for us all to step up?
Credit should be given to all of those involved in both storms clean up. However, the Botanical Gardens standards have dropped dramatically. The Gardens should reflect the name and I have never seen as many weeds and uncared for plants, as there have been lately. It needs a master plan and a caring privatized landscaping company. Too many hours spent in the shed opposite Masterworks by the employees.
Totally agree with your comment, but if you walk around BG you will see the WORKERS working!! We can’t take care of all of the gardens just our sections
Bring in the landscape (butchers) that chop down everything!!!! Botanical Gardens have specific trees and shrubs that have to be pruned, raised so they can survive. What we need is people who love taking care of plants. Come through BG any day and count how many workers you actually see working