New-look Kingston Frost Park is the pride of Brixton

24 October 2016

 

The Kingston Frost Park in Brixton in the City of Johannesburg’s Region B, which was recently revamped at a cost of R3-million, has been opened to the public.

 

Member of the Mayoral Committee for Community Development Cllr Nonhlanhla Sifumba officially launched the new-look park, which has created 10 job opportunities for the locals, on Friday October 21.

The park boasts new outdoor gym equipment, a newly installed fence, paved walkways, 10 new waste bins, nine park benches, repaired irrigation system, refurbished ablution system, security buildings, five-a-side soccer pitches, two surfaced soccer pitches, play equipment and three solar lights.

First developed in 1925, the 3.4-hectare facility was originally called Brixton Park. It was renamed in 1939 after former Johannesburg councillor Kingston Frost. It can cater for thousands of residents.

Cllr Sifumba said the heart of social cohesion was rooted in public parks as these were places where community interests were nurtured.

“Parks are so important for our wellbeing. These facilities keep communities active. Even our children, who are constantly glued to TV sets and cellphones, can finally take up new health activities,” said Cllr Sifumba.

She said parks helped community members to be mentally and physically active.

“They serve as environmental spaces, provide pockets of clean air and act as storm water catchment areas. They can also serve as habitats for bird life, small animals and insects. These pockets nurture the diversity found in the area and, if they are well managed, they will act as a conduit for social cohesion by bringing together residents in the course of building civil pride.

“A bustling park with women and children users is a good measure on how safe a park is. Residents can also use this park to address their neighbourhood concerns and other common issues, helping them to unite in their time of grief and festivity,” she said.

Johannesburg City Parks & Zoo Managing Director Bulumko Nelana said: “Our mission, among many other things, is to ensure that communities are aided to lead active lifestyles and this is promoted through the upgrading of our parks. The way we designed this park, in response to the community’s demands, was to create sporting and recreational value.”

He said the City would drive all criminal elements out of public parks and encourage law-abiding residents to take up activities that would benefit their wellbeing.