Mayor Donald G. Flores said he will coordinate with the Northern Marianas Housing Corp., which implemented the food courtyard project, and invite vendors to utilize the facility as nobody wants to lease it.
Vendors will pay for the power and maintenance of the food court yard, he added.
“Those who are selling their goods outside the Marianas Buiness Plaza every Saturday can do business at the courtyard on Sunday,” he said.
Flores said there will be guidelines and policy for the use of the food courtyard.
The courtyard, designed to accommodate eight concessionaires to serve hundred of guests and tourists, was completed in 2009 during the administration of Mayor Juan B. Tudela.
The project was part of Tudela’s revitalization and development plan for the historical park, which he wanted to be known as the Northern Marianas-Japan Cultural Center.
It was funded by a federal Community Development Block Grant through NMHC.
The food courtyard was designed to serve a variety of local delicacies, beverages, local crafts, souvenir gifts, and sugar cane candy.
Flores said they are planning to transform the other side of the park into a “wildlife garden.”
He said he will bring in iguanas from the Northern Islands and other animals to inhabit a certain portion of the park.
His office, he added, is also working with the Marianas Visitors Authority to “refurbish” the sugar train from the Japanese era.
“We will also plant flame trees and sugarcane in the area,” he said.
Flores at the same time is encouraging community organizations to use the mini-theater at the park for their events.
