Another tier of excitement has been added to Dunn’s River Falls and Park (DRFP) with the new Central Gardens now officially opened.
What was once a customer parking lot has been transformed into a cluster of three lush gardens with a waterslide and splash pad as its central features. Interspersed throughout the area are 12 wood-overlaid kiosks which add a rustic aura to the space and will serve as commercial outlets for DRFP branded merchandise, a photo shop, ice-cream, pizza and other commodities.
The undertaking represents an investment of approximately J$122.5M by the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) which manages the attraction through the St. Ann Development Company (SADCo.) Construction was carried out by Chin’s Construction Ltd, while the UDC provided design and project management services.
“Everywhere you go in the world people talk about wanting to come to Dunn’s River, so we are giving them something else to talk about. We encourage everyone to visit and to have a sense of pride and joy in the memory created.” said Dr. Damian Graham, UDC General Manager, speaking at the official opening (March 23).
Dr. Graham explained that the rationale for the design came out of feedback from customers. He said an analysis of the market segmentation indicated a need to offer more, particularly for the benefit of children and physically-challenged persons who are sometimes not able to climb the entire falls, but desire to participate more.
In welcoming the development, Mayor of St. Ann, Councillor Michael Belnavis said “It’s really a tremendous feat and a tremendous economic opportunity for St. Ann. We are looking at 800,000 visitors annually, and we anticipate that this Central Gardens will take us over that million mark, which has been elusive for so long.”
The new feature is a continuation of the UDC’s commitment to the continuous development of the attraction. Other major upgrades over the years include the introduction of an electronic ticket management system, as well as the construction of a jetty to facilitate arrivals by boat. A ticket office and entry courtyard have also been put in place to foster an enhanced entrance experience for guests. A larger bus and car park has been built to accommodate the increasing numbers of visitors along with an administrative office and staff and nurses’ facilities.
With the full-scale implementation of e-commerce through the DRFP website on the horizon, Dr. Graham said “We are indeed committed to surpassing the customer’s expectations and experience at this world-famous attraction through continuous product improvement, innovation, value added services and bold marketing initiatives.”
Dunn’s River Falls and Park comprises over 600 feet of cascading waterfalls along with an adjacent white sand beach. It provides the unique opportunity for adventure seekers to climb the full extent of the falls and as such is ranked among the “must do” activities for visitors and residents alike. The attraction is a double World Travel Award winner and has received Trip Advisor’s Certificate of Excellence for the last two consecutive years.
The Park is open to the public daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on cruise ship days. The entry rate for non-residents is US$20 for persons aged 12 years and over, and US$12 for children ages 3-11 years. Corresponding rates for residents with supporting IDs are J$600 and J$300 respectively.
For further information, please contact:
The Corporate Relations and Marketing Department
Urban Development Corporation
12 Ocean Boulevard
Kingston, Jamaica
Tel 🙁 876) 656-8031
Mobile: (876) 410-6411
Email cr@udcja.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/urbandevelopmentcorporation
March 31, 2017