~ Wants parking on ‘boardwalk’ ~
PHILIPSBURG–The Philipsburg Promotion Board decided to give lawmakers, Government and other officials a scenic trolley tour of Philipsburg in the day and at night to illustrate the shortcomings of the country’s once-vibrant capital and to call attention to the need to revitalise it from several quarters.
The group got on board the trolley train in the vicinity of the Festival Village on Friday afternoon to meander through the streets and alleyways of the town before stopping at Holland House Beach Hotel where the PPB’s economic document, titled “Make Philipsburg Alive – Creating Economic Opportunity,” was presented to the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation, and Telecommunication (TEATT).
The trolley tour with representatives of the Indian Merchants Association, Down Town Merchants Association, St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce and Industry and others resumed with a night trip through town to show the rapid change from bustling shopping mecca to deserted ghost town.
Topping the Board’s recommendation is putting an end to the dire parking situation in town during the day and at night.
PPB has recommended parking on Boardwalk Boulevard. This will allow immediate access to restaurants, bars and casinos in Philipsburg thus creating an immediate buzz to attract people to the capital’s nightlife.
Parking can be limited to certain designated areas of Boardwalk Boulevard on the beach side. This parking facility can be on a trial basis for one or more seasons, along with the valet parking service at Cyrus Wathey Square. After the growing of the area with this accessibility, and with improvements to lighting and security, a gradual regress of the Boardwalk Boulevard parking would not affect the enhanced nightlife created on the Boulevard.
The group also called to make the central parking lot in front of the old government building accessible exclusively for persons coming to Philipsburg for short-term business ventures and to create a second central parking facility in Philipsburg by the removal of the old Receiver’s building.
The establishment of an organisation such as St. Maarten Parking Authority would be ideal for the management of the capital’s and public beach parking facilities.
The PPB suggests a downtown safari transportation service. This service can start off with a limited number of vehicles and increase according to usage demand. Advertisement within and on the vehicles can be sold to produce revenue for the upkeep of the service and transportation units.
Colour-coded numbered tickets would be sold at a designated station for users. Each colour would represent a specific day of the week. Users with pre-purchased tickets would present and validate same prior to entering the safari on each occasion. Monthly passes can be sold at discounted prices for frequent users.
A weekly street fair throughout the tourist season is seen as “a great attraction” that will extend the shopping hours in town. Thursday evenings are recommended for the weekly street fair, to be held on Boardwalk Boulevard and Front Street from December to March. Financing will come from charging each vendor or merchant an evening fee to be added to a Tourist Bureau contribution and funds from the St. Maarten Hospitality and Trade Association (SHTA) dollar-a-day contribution.
Government also has to establish a law permitting businesses to extend operating hours on that day up to 9:00pm.
More vibrancy can be brought to the capital with a calendar of events suggested by PPB starting with the PPB Annual Anniversary Block Party on May 31. Other suggested events are June 21-July 26 Summer Koop Avond, July 3-4 Soualiga Music Festival, July 1 Summer Jazz on the Boardwalk, September 2 Generation New Status 10th Anniversary Parade, and October 1-31 Customer Service Month Downtown.
Events suggested to round off the year are November 9-30 Art Invasion, November 10 S’Maatn National Cultural Parade, December 1 Philipsburg Comes A Light, December 15-25 Christmas in Philipsburg, December 23 Best Christmas Showcase in town, December 24 Christmas Boat Festival, December 31 New Year’s Eve Celebration and Fireworks.
Activities to kick start the new year are January-April Winter Koop Avond, January Restaurant Week in Philipsburg, February Longest Dining Table, and March Food and Wine Festival.
Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/76522-ppb-gives-philipsburg-alive-proposal-to-government
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