ORANJESTAD, Aruba — The Aruba Cleanup Effort in Mabon will receive support from Royal Netherlands Navy personnel, community volunteers and construction-sector organizations as residents prepare to restore a neglected recreational and sports area.
Prime Minister Mike Eman recently visited the site with Mabon Neighborhood Committee President Astrid Vries, Civil-Military Cooperation Liaison Officer Alex Hozee and Savaneta Marine Barracks Commander Henk Buijs.
The visit formed part of preparations for the National Day to Care for Aruba, scheduled for Saturday, July 25, 2026.
Officials and community representatives inspected the condition of the park and discussed the work needed to clean, repair and eventually return the area to regular community use.
Mabon Seeks to Become Aruba’s Cleanest Neighborhood
The Mabon Neighborhood Committee has expressed an ambition to transform Mabon into one of the cleanest and best-maintained neighborhoods in Aruba.
The July 25 activity will focus on an abandoned recreational area containing a park, softball and baseball fields, and several sports facilities.
The site has suffered from insufficient maintenance in recent years, leaving several areas and installations in poor condition.
Community representatives hope the cleanup will become the first stage of a broader restoration project rather than a temporary improvement.
The long-term objective is to create a safe, attractive and functional public space where children, families, athletes and other residents can gather.
Cleanup Promotes Shared Responsibility
Prime Minister Eman said the national initiative is not intended to be only a one-day cleanup campaign.
He described it as an opportunity for residents to reflect on their shared responsibility for maintaining Aruba’s neighborhoods, natural environment and public spaces.
Government departments can provide services and infrastructure, but lasting improvement also requires participation from residents, businesses and community organizations.
The prime minister thanked Vries, Mabon residents and participating volunteers for taking responsibility and helping organize the neighborhood project.
The Aruba Cleanup Effort is intended to encourage greater community pride while demonstrating what can be achieved when public institutions and residents work together.
Navy Personnel Will Assist Volunteers
Commander Buijs confirmed that personnel from Savaneta Marine Barracks will contribute to the Mabon cleanup activity.
Although the event takes place during a vacation period, a group of military personnel is expected to join residents and other volunteers.
The barracks’ contribution is expected to be larger than initially planned.
Hozee will also assist through his Civil-Military Cooperation role, which supports collaboration among the Royal Netherlands Navy, the Government of Aruba and local communities.
The participation of military personnel reflects the wider relationship between the marine barracks and the Aruban community.
Their support will help volunteers clear and prepare the park while giving the restoration project additional momentum.
Construction Sector Provides Equipment
The Aruba Construction Employers Association, known as Werkgevers Arubaanse Bouwnijverheid or WAB, has also confirmed its support.
Gerco Rijkers, general manager of Algemeen Bouwbedrijf Albo Aruba N.V. and president of WAB, said the association is committed to assisting with the project.
Participating construction businesses are expected to provide personnel, equipment and machinery for work at the Mabon site.
The contribution will allow volunteers to complete tasks that may be difficult to perform using only basic cleanup tools.
Cooperation between the construction sector, government, military personnel and residents is expected to increase the project’s overall impact.
Park Restoration Goes Beyond Waste Removal
The Mabon project will involve more than collecting litter and removing unwanted materials.
Officials want to assess damaged facilities, identify maintenance requirements and develop a path toward restoring the recreational area.
The park includes spaces for baseball, softball and other community activities, but deterioration has reduced its usefulness.
Returning the facilities to a safe and functional condition could provide residents with more opportunities for recreation, exercise and organized sports.
The neighborhood committee believes a restored park could also strengthen social connections among Mabon residents.
Community Invited to Participate
The National Day to Care for Aruba invites residents, businesses, schools, clubs, foundations and other organizations across the island to organize or join cleanup activities.
The campaign emphasizes that protecting and maintaining Aruba should be a continuous responsibility.
Organizers hope participants will continue caring for cleaned locations after the national event has ended.
The Mabon Neighborhood Committee believes its project can become an example for other communities seeking to improve their surroundings.
By combining volunteers with support from the government, Royal Netherlands Navy and construction sector, the Aruba Cleanup Effort aims to give Mabon’s recreational area a new beginning.
Organizers hope the collaboration will help create a cleaner, safer and more welcoming neighborhood while encouraging similar community-led initiatives throughout Aruba.
