snorkel park are included in Wedco's ambitious plans for the future, the corporation's landscape manager revealed yesterday.

Inviting residents to "com up de contry'', Mr. Malcolm Griffiths said the West End Development Corporation "welcomes the comments and input of all who visit''.

Speaking at Hamilton Rotarians weekly lunch, he told of the vast array of attractions at Dockyard, and outlined dozens more planned for the future.

Mr. Griffith said Wedco was formed in 1982 and its first project was cleaning up Dockyard to create a major attraction for tourists and locals.

The historic area includes a shopping mall, movie theatre, restaurants, a craft market, art centre plus the Maritime Museum.

The latest additions to Dockyard include the Frog and Onion Pub and a soon to be opened jazz club, Mr. Griffith said.

Also this year, the upper floor of the Clocktower has been turned into a multi-purpose centre which can be used for conventions, weddings and other functions, he said. And the newly created Dockyard Terrace now offers a health shop, nail clinic, travel agent, art gallery, a small book store and masseuse.

Mr. Griffith said Wedco's plans also include refurbishing Gray's Cove and creating trails around the lagoon to link Black Bay and Parson's Bay.

Wedco has developed its own plant nursery, tree farm and turf nursery to assist in landscaping the area, he pointed out.

While tourist related activities are "very important'', Mr. Griffith said Wedco is trying to encourage commercial enterprises to come into the area as well, with a small warehouse complex planned for the commercial dock.

He said the Meridian cruise ship being a regular visitor from April to October has encouraged night time activities for the passengers, which has in turn had a "spill-over effect'' to attract residents and other tourists.

In addition to the bars and open-air concerts held in the summer, plans are underway to hold a nightclub show in the upstairs of the Clocktower, he said.

He added since Dockyard has become a "major tourist attraction'', the Public Transportation Board responded to the demand by increasing its services during the daylight hours by a whopping 400 percent. And on Tuesday Dockyard night spot owners revealed plans to launch their own evening ferry service.

With the success of this year's boat show -- which will be held again next year, Mr. Griffith said Wedco is working on hosting a car show and art show.

Not to be left out is the northern most end of Dockyard, he said. The area is the site proposed for skeet shooting (with laser guns).

There have also been "several inquiries'' made with regard to using the water front in that area as a snorkel park, he revealed.

The area adjacent to the soon-to-be-vacated Casemates Prison is ideal for an amphitheatre with its high backdrop of rock face looking out over the ocean, creating an "inspiring site for any choir to perform in'', he said.

"It is Wedco's aim to continue to select the right mix for the various locations in and around the Dockyard,'' he said.