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The Belize City Council is looking to embark on the Southern Foreshore Boardwalk; a project it has been exploring since October 2023. For the second time, consultants from the Blue21 international company were in Belize, presenting the results of a feasibility study. The idea is to install a floating boardwalk in the area in front of the Bliss Centre for Performing Arts, stretching further down to the King Street junction. According to civil engineer Rutger De Graaf, the boardwalk is more than just aesthetics. He noted that the construction would protect the seawall which would in turn reduce its degradation and coastal erosion. Additionally, he spoke on the benefits of a safe public space, employment opportunities and a positive ecological impact.
Rutger De Graaf-Van Dinther , Co-Founder and Managing Director, Blue21: “The main thing is to figure out how such a structure would behave in extreme waves and wind. Because under hurricane conditions, a structure should still be safe and should survive such conditions as well. So we have used our own wave simulation software, which we have developed specifically for these kind of projects, and unleashed very harsh waves and winds onto the project. And based on that we did the engineering of the project to make sure that it’s comfortable and safe at all times. I’m very happy that today I can present to the Belize City Council that the project is technically feasible. Usually in our, we distinguish a couple of phases in these kind of projects and the first phase always initiates the phase. That’s the phase where you study the location, you develop the vision, you make a preliminary design, you study the technical feasibility, you talk to stakeholders. So we have talked to many local stakeholders from the government but also on different levels, societal groups and today we kind of finish that phase. After that we get into more detailed design and engineering phase so and then really getting up to the level of construction drawings but also if it requires additional studies such as an environmental impact assessment that’s also what we will do and maybe more public consultation so we’re moving from the initiative phase to the design and engineering phase which includes also looking for funding, a project organization And when we have also tick marked that we move to the construction phase. So we’re kind of now on the intermediate, we just finished the first phase and we’re moving to the second phase now.”
The idea for the floating boardwalk first came up in October 2023 when Mayor Bernard Wagner attended the meeting of Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM) Meeting of Latin American and Caribbean Cities. With the European Union (EU) being a supporting partner, one of its consultants, Mercedes Velasquez, says Belize City has seen tremendous support from these organizations in its aspirations for climate friendly initiatives. She noted that works are currently in the pipeline to secure the funding for the boardwalk.
Mercedes Velazquez, Consultant, EU Project: “We know for sure that there are many funds dedicated from adaptation fund to prepare and then of course to implement and monitoring the project. So I am sure that there will be different options for this project to continue on the upcoming four, five, six years. Bankables Initiative has selected 13 projects around the world. So this is the only one selected in the Caribbean and there is only three more in the Americas. So we are very happy and we congratulate the city and the mayor to have this vision of presenting the project to Bankable Cities.”
For Belize City Mayor, Bernard Wagner, the boardwalk is an important part of his legacy as it will reflect the works and lobbying of a climate smart municipality. He noted that the funding for the project would comprise of both grants and a loan. Mayor Wagner explained that the proposed site is significant but underused.
Bernard Wagner, Mayor of Belize City: “We felt that if we could put together a project, and this was done in Panama when I was in Panama we did a matchmaking exercise with Blue21. And in that matchmaking exercise we came up with the concept of addressing the erosion of our seawall but at the same time integrating a sort of beautification, a sort of tourism component as well as a sort of local economic development component. And the concept was put together by Blue21 and we had where we could see it integrated in the Battlefield Park as you access out of the Battlefield Park on to the Southern Foreshore. The Bliss Center for the Performing Arts we felt that if we could could have that access of people moving out of the Battlefield Park and have that floating boardwalk in that area where during lunch many people who work in the downtown area would be able to access the boardwalk, could have their lunch out there, we could have booths along the boardwalk for local entrepreneurs but the main thing that it will serve as a buffer in respect to the erosion of our sea wall and it has worked tremendously in some of the other cities that we see.”
Mayor Wagner notes that the project has gotten the nod from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Tourism. He says the council will be carrying out consultations with businesses in the area prior to the phase of construction.
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