September 16, 2003
By Tammy O'Reilly
EIGHT parks in the southern suburbs of Johannesburg have been identified for a much-needed facelift, with plans afoot to try to repair the famous musical fountains at Wemmer Pan.
Johannesburg City Parks, responding to a number of complaints from local residents about the dismal state of some of the parks, embarked on an inspection to establish the extent to which they need upgrading.
The eight parks identified by JCP are: Pioneer Park, Wemmer Pan; Dr Fisher Park, The Hill; Moffat Park, South Hills; JC Lucus Park, Rosettenville; Rotunda Park, Turffontein; Vorster Avenue Park, Glenanda; Bellefield Street Park, Mondeor; and Pierpoint Street Park, Kibler Park.
Many of the parks have, over the years, fallen into disrepair with residents no longer making use of the facilities. Common problems are vandalism, litter and the condition of the fencing. Some parks are frequented by vagrants and prostitutes and are plagued by robberies, creating an unsavoury environment to patrons, according to the list of residents' complaints.
JCP's executive director of operations, Geoffrey Cooke, said the company is aware of the need to upgrade these parks and will formulate ways of tackling the different issues.
JCP, the company in charge of Johannesburg's parks, cemeteries and conservation areas, is responsible for the upkeep of more than 100 parks in Region 9 alone, covering Johannesburg's southern suburbs including Rosettenville, Mondeor, Glenvista, South Hills and Southgate.
Although JCP was "working round the clock to keep the parks in the city well maintained", said acting MD Howard Nel, budgetary constraints affected the company's ability to redevelop these parks.
With a marked increase in the rate of burials, much of JCP's budget went towards the maintenance of cemeteries, "leaving very little for park development", Nel said. "However, we are approaching businesses, the City Council and the government for assistance."
Added Cooke: "We need to form partnerships with the community and other stakeholders in order to get these projects off the ground."
One of the parks identified for a facelift is Pioneer Park, in Wemmer Pan Road. The fountain, once a popular tourist attraction with a music and lighting display, is in need of extensive repairs.
"It will cost between R2-million and R3-million to get the fountain working again," said JCP manager for Zone 1, Michelle van Blerk. "Residents are emotionally attached to the fountain and we would like to see it up and running again."
Mayoral committee member, Councillor Christine Walters is hopeful that the park will regain its former status. "We need to approach business to make this park into a regional park," said Walters, whose portfolio covers community development, roads and parks.
JCP has already begun to change the face of Dr Fisher Park in The Hill. Notorious as a site for drug dealers and muggers, the park has long been abandoned by the residents. Now JCP is cleaning up the vicinity and has already successfully removed people who had been using a vacant house in the park as a base to carry out criminal activities.
Litter is the major problem in the Vorster Avenue Park, while maintenance work is needed in the Bellefield Street Park where hundreds of invasive wattle trees have already been removed from the banks of the river.
Moffat Park, the biggest park in the region covering 170 hectares, requires the most amount of work, according to JCP. With no fencing, the open land has become a dumping ground for construction rubble and other garbage. "This place can be seen as an undeveloped park," said Van Blerk. "It will take a long time to get it looking half decent but we are optimistic."
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