Page 13 - ARUBA TODAY

A13
Monday 18 SepteMber 2017

‘Father’ of Parke Curason: George Forbes

By Linda Reijnders park. The park he believes where he rides in the 17-24
JABURIBARI - For years exists 14 years now, so he age category. “But next
I have been practicing was here from almost the season I am planning to
sports at the actual only beginning. race elite, the pros. It’s all
real sport park of Aruba. “The park at that time about adrenaline, speed,
Parke Curason at Jaburi- looked amazing, every- style and also trying to work
bari is a fenced park with thing was new and in good your way up to the first
covered basketball court, shape. More and more place.” Not only is the park
football field, BMX racing people are coming now, a home to BMX groups,
track, skateboard park, the Aruban people love also basketball teams, foot-
workout stations, kid’s play sports more now and that ball groups, skateboard fa-
garden and a paved walk- is good. Comparing to natics, little children, bikers,
ing/running/biking path of the past it got better, that runners and walkers find
750 meter. is why we need to focus their way. And after all it is
on maintaining the park”, also a social gathering spot.
It is located in the neigh- George Forbes.
borhood Jaburibari and is
a popular spot for locals. cerned with the cars that
If you would like to ‘meet enter and directs them to
the locals’, join in on some an available parking spot.
basketball games and sniff He is to most people of
some ‘couleure local’, this the park ‘the face of the
is the place. But, for me, place’ and many times we
the extra cherry on the pie forget to thank people like
is the dedication of the ‘fa- him to stand out like this.
ther’ of the park to his job:
George Forbes. 150 daily visitors
Aruba Today had a little
Face of the Place chat with Forbes. “I work
You have people that just here since 13 years and
do their job and there are I love everything about
people that make a differ- my job. I am supervisor
ence in the way they do and security. The people
their job. Forbes makes a come here every day and
difference when you visit the connection with them
Parke Curason. He greets makes me happy.” He ex-
visitors, walks around to plains that for a day the
take off helping a kid pump park gets about 150 visitors. BMX group Rough Riders Aruba with Jaymer Carolina (left).
his football or pointing out “That is the average, it can are represented, indeed a
a bump in the runway to be more in the weekend.” multicultural all-generation George explains. He likes to Like Daniel Tromp says: “This
a jogger. He even is con- All nations and all ages do sports himself, and he is park allows me to practice
always walking around to my sports, BMX, and there-
help young and old. “I am fore I can race abroad. But
not somebody that sits in a this is also where I meet my
corner making my money. friends. The park is in high
There are a lot of things need of maintenance and I
we need to take care of hope this will be done soon
to prevent accidents.” For and the government takes
George, his goal is to con- her responsibility in this.” This
tinue making the people opinion is shared by Sharitza
happy and see the park Henriquez who likes to walk
fixed up. “I hope that the in the park. “There is a lot of
promised maintenance will lacked maintenance like
come to reality very soon. the workout stations.” For
It is very important as this George this is nothing new,
park has a crucial role.” he sees his park every day
and is concerned about
BMX training spot the state of it. “I welcome
Jaymer Carolina, BMX-er, more and more people ev-
confirms the importance of ery time which is positive,
the park to his sport: “The but we need to fix things.”
park is my training field. I
train here 6 times a week Parke Curason is open daily
from 5 to 7pm.” His club is from 5am – 8:45pm.q
BMX-ers with Daniel Tromp (right). called Rough Riders Aruba