Volunteers beautify Edenvale entrance in ongoing clean-up campaign
The NPO Essentially Edenvale is spearheading a long-term town upliftment effort with support from local businesses, residents, and municipal departments.
To make Edenvale feel more welcoming and inviting, its residents have been improving and uplifting the entrance to the town.
For the past two months, the NPO Essentially Edenvale has been cleaning the area along Van Riebeeck Avenue between Horwood and St John roads, and will soon progress towards the R24.
“This is one of the first areas that motorists and visitors see when they visit Edenvale, and it makes a first impression,” explained Lisa Atkins, a founder of Essentially Edenvale.
Over the past two months, five staff members from Essentially Edenvale and one from Synergy Estates have worked on improving the area.
They cut grass, unearthed pathways, cleared gutters, redecorated flower beds, planted succulents, trimmed trees, and painted curbs at intersections.
Atkins explained that, although the initiative is an Essentially Edenvale project, the NPO is working in partnership with the City of Ekurhuleni (CoE).
“The waste department helped remove 10 skips of grass, rubble, stones, and refuse. The skips contained refuse cleared from the site and items that had been illegally dumped,” said Lisa.
“After we trimmed the trees, the parks department used a grab truck to remove the branches. Atkins explained that many of the succulents came from community donations or complexes that no longer wanted them.”
A volunteer, Corrie Hurter of the Rental Giant, cultivated the plants in Essentially Edenvale’s nursery.
Pearl Paints supplied the paint, and Strongcor donated the plastic used in the flower beds.
She said Red Line Liquor and Woodland Footwear also contributed to the project.
Once the area between Horwood Road and the R24 has been improved, Atkins said Essentially Edenvale will turn its attention to the northern part of town, specifically Van Riebeeck Avenue between Terrace and Modderfontein roads.
