Finding the Visitors Service Centre will be much more convenient for visitors with the addition of a new footpath at the Botanical Gardens.

The Parks Department has put out a tender to general contractors for the project, expected to begin in the autumn.

Drew Pettit, Park planner, said the work involves replacing an existing driveway with construction material for a new pedestrian path. The 300 yard footpath will lead visitors from the Environmental Protection building through the Gardens and past the exhibition houses to the visitors centre. More than 100,000 tourists visit the Botanical Gardens every year.

?This will help to make navigating the gardens that much better to improve the visitors? experience of the gardens,? said Mr. Pettit.

Mr. Pettit said the project is part of the department?s efforts to improve the gardens which began after Hurricane Fabian hit the Island last September. Other efforts underway include a renovation of the formal gardens and the butterfly gardens, a children?s discovery library and an endemic plant display.

Tender documents for the project are available for pick-up today at the Parks Department. Tenders are to be received by Friday, September 17.