Four Joburg inner city parks to be rejuvinated

03 March 2016

 

Atotal of R6.1-million is to be ploughed into four inner city parks in the current financial year as part of the ongoing revitalisation and rejuvenation of the bustling and vibrant urban space.

 

Johannesburg City Parks & Zoo Region F Manager Ipeleng Dube unpacked the parks upgrading plan during a forum of the Inner City Transformation Roadmap in Hillbrow yesterday, 2 March 2016.

Dube said the four parks – Bellevue, Ekhaya, Cavendish and BE de Jager – had been selected for major upgrades to make them attractive open public spaces for families to relax.

Johannesburg Executive Mayor Councillor Parks Tau launched the multibillion-rand Inner City Transformation Roadmap in June 2015 to reignite the spark in the inner city through massive infrastructure investment programmes. The forum aims to create a well-governed, safe, clean and sustainable inner city.

Dube told various inner city stakeholders at the forum that her entity would put in place durable equipment that could not be vandalised or stolen. The parks would also boast solar lights, concrete benches, children’s play areas, soccer fields and picnic areas for adults, she said.

“It’s not only about making these important changes, but it’s also about maintaining them and ensuring they are sustainable,” said Dube.

Johannesburg Inner City Deputy Director Krishni Gounden said the forum brought together the City and business community to facilitate growth and transformation. Gounden said through a public-private partnership the City would eliminate bad buildings and ensure that abandoned properties were converted into affordable housing for the poor.

“Most of the programmes to improve the inner city are under way even though the partnership agreement is yet to be finalised. The City cannot implement these projects alone. Together we can do more,” said Gounden.

The forum, which meets every quarter, also allows for the City and the private sector to share resources so service delivery challenges can be speedily resolved.  The City’s Thabo Maisela said the Inner City Transformation Roadmap followed a precinct approach.

“This means going back to basics by keeping the city clean and ensuring that kids have beautiful parks to play in.”

He said the only way to get the City clean was for people to get out of their offices and attack the filth.

“We’ve to get into our overalls and get our hands dirty,” said Maisela.

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Development Planning Cllr Roslyn Greeff said the City was excited about the developments in the inner city and that it was a great time to explore all these changes.

“The inner city project is going to be a success because there are key people who are determined to see the project become a success. We want to make our city a place that we can be proud of, a clean, safe and vibrant city that caters for everyone,” said Cllr Greeff.