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$1M cultural center is being planned for Sugar King Park
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Posted on Sep 22 2004
The Saipan Mayor’s Office bared plans Tuesday to build a $1-million Northern Marianas-Japan cultural center at the Sugar King Park in Garapan.
Speaking before the Saipan Rotary Club, Mayor Juan B. Tudela said his office is expecting the U.S. Housing Urban Development to provide $285,000 of the necessary funding through the Northern Marianas Housing Corp.
The mayor’s office hopes to raise the remaining amount with the help of Japanese investors and the local community.
Tudela particularly asked Rotarians to pitch the project to a Rotary Club official from Japan who will be visiting the island next month.
“We need the Rotary to get involved not only by providing funding support, but also sharing information on how we can make this project better,” Tudela said during the club’s meeting at Hyatt Regency Saipan.
According to the plan, the cultural center will reflect a traditional Japanese theme and architecture that existed during the Japanese era on Saipan. It will feature wet and dry gardens, pools with origami-style fountains and the “yagura” or wooden drum tower leading to a peace memorial plaza that would emphasize Japan’s enduring history with the Chamorro and Carolinian people.
The cultural center will also feature areas for business and arts and crafts, an amphitheater, a stage, a banquet hall, a café, a resource center, and a historical gallery.
If everything goes as planned, construction of the cultural center should begin within six months, Tudela said.
