Previous Story
‘CK has had no kids’ playground since the Naval Administration’
Teresita A. Santos
Chalan Kanoa has not been given the benefit of a children’s playground since the Naval Administration days prior to the Trust Territory Administration, according to Marian Deleon Guerrero Tudela, who is the chairwoman of the 17th Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council.
In this regard, the municipal council is proposing to create a children’s playground across the U.S. Post Office and adjacent to the Saipan and Northern Islands Leadership Memorial Kiosku. This will require the acquisition of the only two private lands in the area, said Tudela in a letter to Department of Public Lands Secretary Teresita A. Santos
Right now, there are two vacant parcels of land in that area that are “undisputed blighted properties” with little to no enforcement of action by Saipan Zoning, she said.
One parcel is frequented by what appears as “homeless” interest group occupying the area for fellowship and drinking. She said the second parcel is overgrown with grass and littered with plastic.
Tudela said it is for this reason that the Council leadership is asking for Santos’ help to undertake an expedited action in resolving on the long pending land compensation claim to Lot 1794-R/W Roadway Pavement Improvement, otherwise known as Silk Road, that contains 3,064 square meters of land.
She said the compensatory claim of this taking of land has long been pending since action was last taken in May and July 1995, when DPL leased Silk Road to a third party and engaged a private party, Juan T. Lizama, to provide for a mutually beneficial agreement to Lot 1794-R/W Roadway Pavement Improvement project.
Tudela asked Santos to resolve this land claim in order for the council to use and occupy Lot 015 H 03 for the first Chalan Kanoa Happy and Healthy Children Playground, to be owned in fee by Lizama.
She said the adjoining Lot 015 H 02 parcel would require more work for fee title holder to release its interest to the council for the proposed playground project.
Tudela said the Council leadership is also asking for Santos’ assistance in managing the acquisition to Lot O15 H 02.
