Residents demand action as Park 2030 in Birch Acres falls into disrepair

Residents of Birch Acres Ext 6 have voiced growing concerns about the poor maintenance of Park 2030, fearing for their safety after repeated criminal incidents linked to the neglected area.

In the May 22 edition of the Kempton Express, residents expressed frustration over the ongoing neglect, saying thieves and robbers frequently used the park as a hideout to target community members.

Despite residents cleaning the playground at the corner of Geranium Road and Meebos Street, they are unable to maintain it due to overgrown grass.

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The Kempton Express contacted the CoE on May 7, seeking a response regarding the park’s condition.

While the municipality missed the initial deadline of May 12, they eventually responded by focusing mainly on maintenance of the small playground area, with little attention to the larger park behind it.

“The grass was cut during the first week of February and again on May 12,” said city spokesperson Zweli Dlamini.

“The grass has since regrown due to heavy rains, not because it was never cut.”

Ward 13 Clr Bulelwa Ngqwangi acknowledged the problem, attributing maintenance delays to vehicle challenges in the municipality’s Parks Division.

“I have reported all the parks in Ward 13 for grass-cutting and tree pruning,” said Ngqwangi.

“The department faces vehicle issues, which have delayed our programme. Residents even closed the park gate for safety reasons. I continue to follow up with the relevant departments in service delivery meetings.”

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Community member Russel Willoughby recently visited the municipality and reported seeing expired licenses on the tractors and vehicles assigned to park maintenance.

According to Willoughby, the municipality only visits the small playground, emptying bins and taking photos to show they cleaned, while leaving the larger park unattended.

“The municipality comes once a year with a truck; I saw them in December. When I asked if they would cut the grass, they said ‘No’.

“They just emptied bins and took photos to show the playground was cleaned, but it was the community who did the cleaning,” Willoughby said.

The overgrown park is seen as a safety hazard, with residents recounting a shooting in December 2024 and a more recent robbery in the area.

Despite repeated reports, some residents feel ignored because the municipality claims the matter is closed or “completed” without visible improvements. Many feel neglected despite paying rates and taxes.

The fact that two tractors seen in the area belong to the sports facilities department, not the Parks Division, has further complicated maintenance efforts.

Drivers told residents that the back park area was not in their jurisdiction.

Access to that park is limited because there is no large gate suitable for maintenance vehicles. The city removed a section of fence last year to allow tractor access, but residents said it installed no permanent gate, making ongoing upkeep difficult.

Willoughby added that while the city cut the grass, the promised follow-up bush-cutting to level the area never happened. Without vehicle access, emergency response to the park’s back area would be nearly impossible.

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Dlamini explained that the Parks Division typically maintains the park. However, recent vehicle breakdowns and resource shortages had hindered their efforts.

“To address this, grass-cutting will be supplemented by appointed contractors,” he said.

“The Fleet Department has begun repairing service vehicles, which will improve grass-cutting and overall maintenance going forward.”