July 29, 2005
By Tshepiso Seopa
AMID the mine dumps surrounding Riverlea is an unusual sight: in a small park several youngsters are hauling waist-high chess pieces from checkered square to checkered square, while others stand on the sidelines giving free advice.
The outdoor chessboard is one of the facilities set up in the park to keep the youngsters in the area busy and out of trouble.
Riverlea Extension resident Paul Stigling came up with the idea, but the park is a result of hard work by members of the community and City officials from Region 4's department of sports, recreation and aquatics and City Parks.
The impoverished suburb of Riverlea, about eight kilometres from the Joburg central business district, has a high unemployment rate and there is little to keep young residents occupied.
Stigling watched with concern as the empty land on the corner of Kammanasie and Storm streets became a no-go area and "children as young as eight years old" became involved in activities such as gambling. "Members of the community feared walking past those grounds," he said.
Paul Stigling with the children of the area: alongside the giant chessboard is the play area for morabaraba
So Stigling decided to do something. He approached his ward councillor, Fahdiel Moosa, with the idea of turning the empty lot into a safe playground.
His ideas were received with enthusiasm and a joint operation was set in motion.
City Parks
Community members quickly became involved in the construction work, while City Parks provided all the building material.
The team planted grass, built walls, installed benches, and set out the giant chessboard. Brick blocks were used on the sides and bottom of the board, with cement poured on top. Oxide was used to colour the squares.
Chess pieces were provided by the department of sports, recreation and aquatics.
Chess was selected, said Stigling, because it enhanced mental capacity and helped develop strategising skills. "It relaxes the mind and props up individual physical senses."
He noted that most township children tended to want to play soccer, "and follow in Steven Pienaar's footsteps", but did not know much about chess.
Jonathan van Rooyen, Region 4's operations manager for sports, said the park and its chessboard had been well received. "During school holidays the park is filled with school children and at weekends everyone in the community comes to the park."
On weekends residents brought braais and picnics, playing music and relaxing, he added. "Everyone has agreed that there will be no liquor allowed in the park."
Play
One of the regulars, a 12-year-old called Jonathan said, "I love coming to the park to play. Every day when school is over I come here to play with my friends and we play karate, horses and sometimes when we have a ball we play soccer."
It has become a safe area for the youngsters. A volunteer caretaker at the park, Mildred de Bruin, said, "At least now I know my children have a safer place where they can play."
Having watched the chess players, she too is keen to learn how to play.
Now plans are now being made to extend the facilities. An area has been set aside for morabaraba, and other sports will be encouraged.
Before that, however, the next item on the list of priorities is irrigation and lighting. The community also wants to plant trees.
"I'm filled with joy when I think what this area was once used for," said Stigling's youngest daughter, Sabrina. Although the changes were not easy, "we did achieve our goals".
"I just wish it was summer and schools had already closed," she said. "We could put the park to full use."
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