National Heroes Park, Kingston

National Heroes Park, previously known as King George VI Memorial Park, is a sprawling botanical garden situated in Kingston. Spanning an impressive 50 acres, it stands as the largest open space within the city. This remarkable park houses numerous monuments and serves as the final resting place for many of Jamaica's National Heroes, Prime Ministers, and influential cultural figures.

Originally known as Kingston Race Course, the park was established in 1783 as a one-mile horse racing track. In 1905, it became Knutsford Park and was later transformed into a public park. It was renamed King George VI Memorial Park to honor the king. After Jamaica's independence in 1962, the park acquired its current name.

An outstanding feature within the park is the Jamaica War Memorial, a cenotaph dedicated to the brave Jamaicans who lost their lives during World War I and World War II. Originally erected in 1922 on Church Street in downtown Kingston, it was relocated to its present position in 1953. The memorial, adorned with a substantial cross weighing one and a half tons, holds significant prominence within the park.

A monument for Norman Manley was built on September 16, 1972. It has twelve pillars arranged in two circles, with taller inner pillars. The center holds Manley's tomb, topped with a six-pointed star. Each pair of pillars represents a different aspect of Manley's life, initially with plaques describing these aspects attached.

The Smile Jamaica Concert, featuring the legendary reggae superstars Bob Marley & The Wailers, took place at the National Heroes Park. The initial concert occurred on December 5, 1976, while the second edition was held on February 10, 2007.