The expansion and embellishment of the Salina national park and the Kennedy Grove area in St Paul’s Bay to compensate for the Coast Road’s encroachment upon the picnic area opposite the park will begin in the coming weeks.

Environment Minister Leo Brincat said that the project would be completed by the beginning of next year. The tendering procedure for concrete works, printed concrete footpaths and platforms are at the adjudication stage, he added.

An area covering about 3,000 square metres, which is currently unused, will be embellished to make up for the 2,000 square metres taken over by Transport Malta for the Coast Road project. Transport Malta pledged about €300,000 as compensation.

There were a number of people who responded to the expression of interest for the Marsascala Family Park, but we did not get the response we were expecting

The project will include the planting of about 150 indigenous trees and a 100-metre-long rubble wall will be built.

There will also be an outdoor gym, rubber matting flooring, picnic tables and a wooden gazebo for shade, Mr Brincat said.

Playing equipment for children aged between two and 12 years, animated shaped bins, rock climbing and animated spring riders will also form part of the project.

Asked about the Marsascala Family Park, Mr Brincat said there was a poor response to tender calls for bids, adding that all bidders had been disqualified.

A tender notice was issued in The Malta Government Gazette in January for several sites across eight areas to be rented out to commercial entities. A previous expression of interest call received 39 submissions from 14 different entities.

“There were a number of people who responded to the expression of interest but, during the bidding stage, we did not get the response we were expecting.

“I am informed that all the bidders were disqualified. We will now be reviewing the terms to try and make them more favourable so that we can issue another call,” Mr Brincat said.