Once completed, The Malindi beachfront upgrading project will cover a distance of about nine kilometers from the Vasco Da Gama Pillar to the Sabaki Bridge and is similar to the Mama Ngina Water Front Project in Mombasa. One of its biggest attractions is the Malindi waterfront park which was drawn up as an urban plan for the sustainable development of the town.
Where is the Malindi Waterfront Park Located?
It is located in the Shella area along Silversands road. The waterfront park which sits on the seafront land of the Malindi area goes from the jetty and the fish market to the great baobab before the pillar of Vasco Da Gama. The Kilifi county government hopes that the park can be a rival to the Ushaka waterfront in South Africa.
The project included the reconstruction of the jetty, the paving of a large adjacent area to make car parks, the construction of a beach soccer field with changing rooms and showers, public toilets, two volleyball courts, a children recreation area, a refreshment area with shops and benches, administrative offices with an information Centre, a garden crossed by a promenade to the sea and connected to other gardens in the other areas, garbage bins for separate waste collection and bypaths with colored floors and street lamps. In the areas with access to the beach, there are deckchairs and sunbeds, and lighting to make the entire promenade live in the evening. The redevelopment also includes the planting of palms and other plants.
The Malindi beachfront is a game-changer in the tourism industry since it promotes sports tourism as it is the only place in the country which has beach soccer and other sports. The waterfront park has changed the face of Malindi and we are looking forward to seeing a boost in the economy through tourism. The park is now open to the public.