MVA partially lights up Beach Road Pathway

Division of Parks and Recreation director Eli Cabrera, right, Department of Public Works Secretary James Ada, left, and former Marianas Visitors Authority board member Chris Nelson, second left, react after MVA board chair Marian Aldan-Pierce, third left, Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang, and Brianna Fejeran turn on the switch in last Friday’s partial lighting ceremony of the Froilan C. Tenorio Beach Road Pathway. (Jon Perez)

The Froilan C. Tenorio Beach Road Pathway was partially lit last Friday night with the entire project covering the entire 5-kilometer stretch to be completed in a few more months. The area from First Hawaiian Bank to Quartermaster Road was lit last week.

Lampposts from Quartermaster to the Cabrera Center, the second phase of the project, were also switched on a few days after Friday’s ceremony.

Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang and Marianas Visitors Authority board chair Marian Aldan-Pierce turned on the switch along with Parks and Recreation director Eli Cabrera, Brianna Fejeran, former MVA board member Chris Nelson, and Department of Public Works Secretary James Ada.

MVA managing director Chris Concepcion, deputy managing director Judy Torres, marketing manager Bruce Bateman, projects manager Martin Duenas, destination enhancement specialist Tatiana Babauta, Sen. Sixto Igisomar (R-Saipan), Reps. Angel Demapan (R-Saipan)and Joseph Leepan Guerrero (R-Saipan), CNMI State Board of Education chair Herman T. Guerrero, former MVA managing director Perry Tenorio, and project construction manager Sonya Dancoe were also present.

“We’re hoping people would stop vandalizing public properties like the pathway lights. We should take care of efforts to beautify our island and people should report to the police if they see someone stealing the copper wires,” said Rep. Guerrero.

Apatang said that it was about time that the pathway gets lighted again since a lot of people from the community use it for recreational purposes while also being an attraction for tourists.

“The project faced a lot of obstacles. We experienced a number of typhoons last year with Typhoon Soudelor the strongest where the lights and posts were damaged. A few weeks ago someone stole the copper wires.”

He said that the Saipan Mayor’s Office and Parks & Recreation are tasked to maintain the Beach Road Pathway including the lights with the help of project contractor RNV Construction. “We need the community’s help in keeping an eye on people who have the destructive attitude on the ongoing beautification projects that our office, the MVA, and other agencies have been doing.”

“A lot of our local residents use the pathway for recreational purposes. They run, jog, walk, and ride their bikes here, while it also a tourist attraction where one can enjoy the beautiful sunset that is also an asset of our island,” said Apatang.

Cabrera said the community could now enjoy walking or running even at night. “Now a lot of people from our community can feel safe while walking or running at night. The pathway is also a place where families could enjoy quality time.”

“We’re hoping that nobody would anymore attempt to steal the copper wires or destroy the lamps and the posts so people could use the pathway for exercise and enjoy watching the sunset.”