Editing Kingston, Jamaica (section)

==Parks==

The city of Kingston is home to a number of urban parks which are frequently transformed to accommodate various events and festivities on the Jamaican calendar. The most popular parks include: Emancipation Park, Hope Gardens, Devon House, National Heroes' Park, [[St. William Grant|St William Grant Park]] and Mandela Park.

===Emancipation Park===
{{Main|Emancipation Park (Kingston, Jamaica)}}

The Liguanea Club, a recreational and social club for the upper class in society, located on Knutsford Boulevard, owned over {{convert|35|acres|0|abbr=on}} of land including the former Liguanea Park now the site of Emancipation Park. The club gave the land measuring seven acres as a gift to the Jamaican Government.
[[File:A_bust_of_Marcus_Garvey.jpg|thumb|A bust of [[Marcus Garvey]] in Emancipation Park]]
Several government members argued that the land should be converted into a business district, while others felt a multi-functional entertainment complex should be built on the site. The large financial input needed for either venture, was not forthcoming. In 2002 Cabinet granted approval for the transfer of the land to the National Housing Trust on the condition that a park was built and maintained at that location. The land was transferred for one Jamaican dollar.<ref>[http://www.emancipationpark.org.jm/about-us/history-of-emancipation-park.php] Official website of Emancipation Park</ref>

The park is well known for the 11&nbsp;ft. (approximately 3m) high bronze sculpture done by Jamaican artist Laura Facey, situated at the park's main entrance. This prominent sculpture comprises two naked black male and female statues gazing to the skies – symbolic of their triumphant rise from the horrors of slavery. The statue was unveiled in July 2003, in time for the park's first anniversary<ref>[http://www.emancipationpark.org.jm/about-us/facey-sings.php] Official website of Emancipation Park</ref> which caused an out cry from the Jamaican populace who believed that the blatant nudity and generous bodily proportions of the figures were very inappropriate to depict the freedom of black people.<ref>[http://www.jamaicatravelandculture.com/destinations/kingston/redemption-song-statue.htm] Jamaica Travel and Culture.com</ref>

===Hope Gardens===
The Royal Botanical Gardens at Hope, popularly called Hope Gardens serves as a national attraction. The Hope Gardens is a part of the {{convert|2000|acres|0|abbr=on}} of land making it the largest botanical garden in the English-speaking Caribbean. The land situated by the foothills of the Blue Mountains was originally owned by Major Richard Hope from whom it got its name. Two hundred acres of this land was obtained by the Government of Jamaica in 1880 and was originally established as a plant introduction and crop-testing facility for plants such as pineapple, cocoa, coffee and tobacco. The formal Botanical Gardens were laid out on approximately {{convert|60|acres|0|abbr=on}} of this land with the assistance of personnel from the Kew Gardens in England.

In the 1950s, the Queen, after visiting the island and being pleased with the state of the gardens, gave permission for it to be called the Royal Botanical Gardens, Hope. The Gardens have many exotic species along with some endemic trees of Jamaica. Over the years, the ravages of hurricanes and other disasters have resulted in the loss of a significant number of species. However, there are still some prominent trees and popular sites to be viewed in the Gardens. At Hope Gardens, visitors can view a number of other features including the Coconut Museum, the Sunken Gardens, the Orchid House, the Lily Pond, the Maze and Palm Avenue.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.visitjamaica.com/activities/royal-botanical-gardens.aspx |title=Hope Royal Botanical Gardens, Kingston |website=Visitjamaica.com |access-date=13 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120718133245/http://www.visitjamaica.com/activities/royal-botanical-gardens.aspx |archive-date=18 July 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://jamaicachm.org.jm/PDF/February2008.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://jamaicachm.org.jm/PDF/February2008.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=The Royal Botanic Gardens of Hope - contributing to Jamaica's plant diversity |first1=Lois A. T. |last1=Morgan |first2=Karl N. |last2=Binger |website=jamaicachm.org |access-date=7 July 2021 }}</ref>

The Hope Gardens has an adjoining zoo referred to as Hope Gardens Zoo. The gardens and zoo are undergoing redevelopment to improve the physical landscape and the animal inventory as a part of Bring Back The Hope campaign.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://m.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Robert-Lalor-appointed-CEO-of-Nature-Preservation-Foundation_8732757 |title=Robert Lalor appointed CEO of Nature Preservation Foundation - Business|website= JamaicaObserver.com |publisher= |date=1 May 2011 |access-date=13 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150330052057/http://m.jamaicaobserver.com/business/Robert-Lalor-appointed-CEO-of-Nature-Preservation-Foundation_8732757 |archive-date=30 March 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>