Whether you own a small backyard or several hundred acres, there are always creative ways to use vacant land. Learn how you can use the empty land you own.
Creative Ways to Use Vacant Land
Creative Ways to Use Vacant Land include family-friendly activities, farming, cooking competitions, weddings, photography shoots and landscaping showcases.
Victoria Park on Rodney Street holds a special place in the history of Falmouth.
But Victoria Park isn’t just a historical landmark or memorial for Falmouth – it holds a special place in my heart as well.
That’s because it was the place my hubby and I used to tie the knot more than 12 years ago. We used that one location for our wedding ceremony, reception and to take our photos. Our wedding photos and the whole event turned out very well.
So maybe it’s because I have experienced Victoria Park in all its regal glory why I mourn its current condition and dream of creative uses for the empty land.
It is with complete confidence in the potential of this place why I hereby declare that this is what I would do with the property if I owned it! These are my empty land ideas for Victoria Park in Falmouth.
(This post contains affiliate links. That means if you make a purchase via one of those links, I might earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. See full disclosure)
Install and Maintain Proper Bathrooms
One of the first matters I would need to attend to is the installation of bathrooms.
Now I’m not talking about the bland (and often smelly) toilets typically made available to the Jamaican public. I would go for the cheaper and greener option of a composting toilet.
Now before you scoff at the idea or turn your nose up at my vision, here me out.
There are composting toilets and there are composting toilets. It’s all about finding the right balance between function and the all-important feature: style.
(I believe in style!)
So if you’ve seen or heard poor reviews of composting toilets, don’t worry. Check out these cute options for composting toilets you are sure to love.
This one for instance is designed from bamboo. Wouldn’t you want to go in this?
Or how about this set-up for some inspiration?
This design is also very sleek and practical for persons with disabilities. Just add some flowers and maybe a pretty floor mat and you’d be fine and comfortable.
Now that you have a glimpse of the style potential in these alternatives to flush toilets, let’s have a go (pun intended!) at some of the benefits:
What’s to Love about Composting Toilets?
- When water is gone the park would still be usable – composting toilets are made to work without water. Once you’re done doing your thing, a scoop of ashes, wood chips or crushed dried leaves covers the deposit; urine is ideally collected in a urine diverter, so the solids remain solid!
- With the right amount of bulk material, they don’t smell – as mentioned previously, bulk material sprinkled on top of the waste is enough to eliminate odour and keep flies away.
- The compost collected can be used in gardening – once your bucket is full, you let it rest for a year or two and the resulting material will be great for soil enhancement.
So, yes, I would go to town on creating a cozy, odour-free and aesthetically pleasing composting toilet for Victoria Park!
Manicured and Creative Landscaping
Picture this: a park with new landscape designs every few months that are so stunning they attract photographers and admirers from all around the area.
I can see it now.
People in and around Falmouth should be holding their breath for the next design they’ll see. They should be hopping on buses and taxes from nearby communities because they can’t wait to see what the landscapers did this time.
Let’s view some inspiring ideas for creative ways to use vacant land!
(Of course, these are all sourced from a Google search on the people’s internet so please don’t sue me!)
I would want this fun venture to become so popular that the local landscaping businesses would want to bid for the chance to have their handiwork on display for every quarter or so. Aesthetics matter folks – like I said before, I believe in style!
(And just in case you are looking for lawn care services in the area, here is a list you should check out)
Weddings are a Great Empty Land Idea!
You were probably wondering when this one would appear but here it is. I would use Victoria Park as a wedding venue. The rentals would be offered in different levels or “packages” if you will.
- The silver level would be priced just to use the space
- Gold level would include access to the space along with chairs and tables
- Platinum level would include the space, furniture, videography/photography and catering
I could even have clients choose extra perks for each level like a horse-driven cart or a violinist (anybody knows a good violinist in these parts?) Like I said, this isn’t just dreaming up a fantasy – I got married there and it worked!
We had people thinking we were millionaires because of how beautiful our wedding was.
I also know other couples who either got married there or did their photos there as well. So, I have witnesses to this creative way to use a vacant land…lol!
I can imagine how those horse-driven rides around the town outskirts for the lovely couple would add quaint Victorian charm to any wedding.
Family-Friendly Festivals are Good Business Ideas for Empty Land
Victoria Park is large enough to host family-friendly gatherings, but small enough to allow those events to feel cozy, warm and intimate.
Think of events like family cook-off competitions, kite festivals (including hands -on kite making tutorials), community family sports days etc. These could be hosted on holidays or random weekends as well.
It’s one way we could use to build family values in the region. Each event could even be sponsored by a company that provides wholesome family services.
Farmer’s Markets are Beneficial Things to do with Vacant Land
I am all for local produce. I love to see the dirt on my food and see the dirt on the hands of the one selling them to me. But that’s if I can’t grow it myself! “If you can’t be a farmer, know a farmer” is what I say.
So in an effort to get good fresh produce and to support our local farmers, I would bring on a farmer’s market. It could be twice or three times a year. Nothing imported, just what our own farmers in the area grow themselves. And the more organic, the better! I think this would be a meaningful and creative way to use a vacant land.
Other Ways to Use Victoria Park
Booths for Artists and Artisans
The Bible speaks of something good that everyone can do with their hands so they will not be in lack. (Maybe mine is writing?)
I imagine Victoria Park beautifully set up for local artists and artisans to have their paintings and crafts on display (and on sale too). I am sure we have skilled crochet makers, knitters and other highly skilled and creative residents in the Falmouth area. Why not give them an opportunity to display and promote their skills?
Venue option for VBS
With more suitable bathroom facilities and ample space for running around, I can see the Victoria Park being a great place for a summer-time Vacation Bible School. 
Think of the games you could organise and the classes you could host for the children!
Pottery-making tutorials and displays
What better way to use the space that Victoria Park provides than to host pottery-making classes! Think of whole families coming out and learning a new skill together. Your children would be glad to see you finally allowing them to play in the dirt!
Floral design tutorial days
How could I have access to the beautiful grounds of Victoria Park and not talk about flowers? I would invite the region’s top floral designers to give displays and tutorials. It would also make an excellent venue for one of the flower shows hosted by the Jamaica Horticultural Society. We could consider it the JHS Flower Show, Western Edition!
Ice sculpture displays
Here’s where I’m pushing the boundaries of my imagination. I’ve only seen these beauties on screen and never in person, so I don’t even know if such crafters exist in the island, let alone in the parish of Trelawny. But, I’d still go for it!
Ice cream days
No family-centred itinerary is complete without ice-cream. That’s why my management of Victoria Park would incorporate ice-cream somewhere in the mix.
We could have dedicated ice-cream days or just add an ice-cream booth to all the other family-focussed events.
I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice-cream! lol
BEFORE YOU GO
Now that I have shared what’s on my heart, what idea would you add to the mix?
And if by some Divine intervention I do get to manage Victoria Park, which one of the events would you attend?
Leave your answers in the comments!
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