Fresh Park a stepping stone for Elletson Flats

As the residents of Elletson Flats have been mourning the loss of community stalwart Carmen Chin, the place appears slightly abandoned.

Her son, Wayne Chin, a sound engineer and founder of Fresh International, though reminiscing on his mother, did not shy away from showing The WEEKEND STAR around the small valley-situated scheme and his contribution to Elletson Flats - Fresh Park.

Chin says the sidewalk getaway started during the period of Hurricane Gilbert.

"It started with the planting of the evergreen tree to try get back some shade in the area," Chin said.

From one tree, there are now over 15, with numerous shrubs and flowers in the bed that outlines the park.

Add to that a minibar, aquariums, bird cages, tables and chairs, and the area has become a popular spot for residents and passers-by.

The birds attract all ages, and Chin is able to let them out for hours, knowing they will return to the cages.

"I never know what I was doing, only that it's sort of a recreational area. Everybody deal with issues and problems differently. For me, it was to come over here and take out all the negative energy on the land," Chin said.

He continued: "It keeps my mind active, in good times or bad. People used to wonder and ask if a mad him mad."

The bar was added when persons began to realise that it was a nice hang-out spot.

Every Friday, the people of Elletson Flats would link up, drink, and pull out the rusty jerk pan, and Fresh International would set up a small box.

Chin says that in the past, many persons associated the communities surrounding Elletson Flats with the reputed gangster 'Dog Paw', so persons would often be reluctant to attend events, or those events would be prematurely locked off by the police.

"It became an issue; we would get the feedback of a lot of things that happen around us, which mean we get the bad name. It created a stigma where they would ask, 'is Elletson Flats you live? It bad, mean you bad'. but as time progress, people start noticing the good," he said.

Fresh Park "is a stepping stone to bigger projects".

The community centre is being refurbished to influence sporting activities and youth involvement.

Chin says the one thing that the people are looking forward to is being able to host events that bring all the neighbouring communities together.

Marilyn Smith, a resident of Elletson Flats for over 50 years, expressed that the community has blossomed and is constantly flowering.

"Every now and then, you might hear people [arguing]. all when my head tek mi, we argue. But it is a peaceful area. We working for it to be a more attractive area for people to come interact, and not target," Smith said.