PORT ST. MAARTEN – Christmas is coming to Walter Plantz Square (WPS) at Down Street on Friday afternoon at Happy Hour. An 18-foot Christmas tree will be in place, and the entire beach and square will be lit-up for the holiday season.
Every Friday there will be Happy Hour@Walter to the tunes of DJ Em. Restaurants are already open catering to residents and visitors: Irie Garden (vegetarian), Layback Bar & Restaurant (creole), and the Oranje Café.
There will be free candy and Christmas cookies for the kids along with a special photo opportunity with ‘Walter loves Christmas.’ Parking is available near the square.
Make WPS a place to visit this holiday season and beyond. It is a great location for visitors, family and friends to hang out through the week or weekends.
Cruise passengers also have a new venue to visit and sample the products and services at the various ginger-bread houses at the square.
The Walter Plantz Square at Down Street has generated a new spirit of life into the area for locals and visitors alike.
WPS is about promoting the national heritage of the country which is part of Port St. Maarten’s re-inventing cruise tourism and is essential to the new products and services to be offered to cruise and stay-over visitors. This is very important in order for the country to maintain its position as a premiere matured cruise destination.
WPS comprises of seven small buildings constructed according to the traditional St. Maarten architectural ginger-bread design, to reflect the national heritage of the destination. The essence of the project is to bring in the heritage value of the destination by showcasing the ginger bread homes of the past.
The approximately US$2 million project entailed the construction of a square with cabanas to be used for a bar/restaurant, the selling of arts and crafts and other tourist related goods; water fountain; 12 Sylvester palm trees 12 feet high; toilet/bathroom facilities; lockers; the square will be disabled accessible; parking for five taxi’s; small splash pool for kids; water fountain illuminating 60 different lights at night; 24-hour security.
The square is strategically located next to the Walter Plantz Tender Jetty which connects to the boardwalk/beach promenade, Down Street and Front Street which allows for a broader distribution flow of passengers.
PHOTO CUTLINE: The 18-foot Christmas tree at ‘Walter loves Christmas.’
