There's a simmering dispute over a park on Seashore Drive in the Buttonwood Bay area of Belize City. Area residents say they are trying to build a proper seaside park, but are being undermined by what they characterize as a land grab.
The area is a dank and long neglected public space near the corner of Seashore Drive and Buttonwood Bay Boulevard. It's supposed to be a people's park, but neglect had turned it into a dubious hangout spot. Recently, residents, working along with City Hall, have been working to fix up the park, which meant clearing away some mangrove and filling it with sand - work which was ongoing today with City Council workers.
But that parcel 3820 which is shown on this map as one integral plot is now under dispute. Giovanni Blease says it's his - not the whole park, just the area that was recently cleared and is now being filled. Blease's attorney told us that the park only extends to where the boulder - fence is and that small plot, between the end of the park fence and tall fence for Mike Feinstein's boat yard is designated for Geovanni Blease.
Well, the city council has been notified of this by the Lands Department and in three weeks when City Hall's caution expires, the matter will likely go to court. We'll keep following it.
