The Corporation of Hamilton has "broadened its vision" to put work and funds not only into Front Street, but the whole City, including the back of town, MP Dale Butler said yesterday.

Mr. Butler made this observation at the opening of the new Jubilee Park on Parson's Road yesterday morning.

The park, which also provides a shortcut between Parson's Road and King Street, is a quiet area for residents and children to enjoy.

"It does nothing but enhance the area," said Pembroke East Central MP Stanley Morton, who was also at the opening ceremony.

The park also increases property values in the immediate area, said Mr. Morton, as well as providing a place for people to relax "while they're waiting for TCD!"

Mr. Butler, who represents Warwick East in Parliament but lives in the Pembroke area, also commended the Corporation of Hamilton for a job well done.

"As a taxpayer living in the city, I am pleased," he said. "This area is no longer wasteland -they have done a great job."

Mayor of Hamilton Lawson Mapp officially opened the park.

"I think it is only fitting that, as we encourage more people to live in the City, we should provide more open space for them to relax and enjoy," he said.

"We trust that the area residents will take care of the park, and we like to think that the Jubilee Park enhances the basketball court, park and children's play area across the road that the Government has so graciously provided already."

The land, which is now Jubilee Park, was bought by the Corporation of Hamilton about 30 years ago, said Corporation Secretary Roger Sherratt.

It was originally bought to extend King St. down to Parson's Road, he added, but as King St. North was a very narrow road, it was considered that the houses were too close, and such a move would make the road extremely busy, and life very unpleasant for people in the area.

Then, several years ago, the idea was put forward to turn the land into a park.

Mr. Sherratt said the park cost an estimated $70,000 to renovate.

That price includes street lamps, pathways, trees, grass, soil, benches, fences, trash bins, and the moving of a very large boulder from the Bailey's Bay quarry for decoration in the park.

Mr. Sherratt said that the Mayor in particular was eager to name the area 'Jubilee Park', in honour of the Queen's Golden Jubilee.

"We know it's a small park," he said, "but we thought that was appropriate as it was built during her Jubilee and opened at about the same time."

The bandstand in Victoria Park was similarly constructed to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in the 1870s, he said.