The official opening of Gunboat Beach marked a significant milestone in the Palisadoes development project, transforming a once-swampy, neglected stretch into a vibrant public space. Officials say the project reflects the Government’s commitment to making the island’s natural beauty accessible to all, laying the foundation for further development along the coastline.

Published Thursday, July 2, 1959 

Gunboat Beach opened by Mayor

GUNBOAT Beach, the Government’s free-for-all playground, was formally declared open yesterday by the Mayor, Councillor Iris King.
Transformed from a sandy, swamp-ridden lovers’ lane (with at least one tragic memory) into a grass-carpeted, tree-lined garden, Gunboat Beach delighted the thousands at the opening function.
Setting the tone for the future use of the beach, the Hon Florizel Glasspole said: “The Government could not contemplate the expenditure of large sums of money to develop and create this centre and then allow one small unit of people to spoil the facilities and prevent the larger number of people who wish to come here from coming here.”
Facilities
Mr Glasspole announced that the beach would open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., except on holidays when it would open earlier; the catering concession would be offered on a competitive tender, and the facilities were free to the public.
He said it was proposed at a later stage to fence off the beach against sharks and, in the long run, to introduce gondolas — all in all, to develop the beach into a first-class spot for the people of the Corporate Area.
The minister mentioned the proposal to cut a road from the roundabout on the St Thomas Road through Hope Gorge to August Town and the UCWI.
Already, Mr Glasspole said, requests had been made for the establishment of a hotel nearby and, over the next 20 years, he hoped to see hotels and motels springing up between the airport and Port Royal.
The beach was only one of six development areas into which the Palisadoes development project had been divided. The complete recreational centre is planned to comprise 150 acres between the airport and Harbour Head.
Giving a brief history of the development, Mr Glasspole said he got the idea in 1956 while he was seeing the Miami Beach development on a visit to the United States. He learned that Miami Beach had developed from morass and swamps, as the Palisadoes was.
Committee
With the approval of the chief minister and the Cabinet, a committee to plan the development of the Palisadoes strip was set up, with Mr Glasspole as chairman.
Among members were Mr David Spreull, vice-chairman; Mr (now the Hon) Eddie Hanna; Mr James Downes of Hope Gardens (deceased); and Mr George Cadbury, then senior economic adviser to the Government. Mr Robert Moses, an expert on park development in the United States, was invited here and encouraged the development.
Speaking as “one who believes that recreation and exercise are necessary parts of the activities of any people”, the mayor congratulated Mr Glasspole for the inspiration and leadership he had given to the Palisadoes Development Committee and the hard work he had put in from time to time in making a reality of a dream.
The development, she said, was also a tribute to the Government, which provided the money for the project. This, she said, was tangible proof that the Government realises that such facilities should be made available to everybody in this country, high and low, rich and poor alike, “especially since our country is blessed by nature with lovely beaches and what goes to make lovely resort areas”.
There was a water-skiing exhibition and a show of the latest beach fashions.

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