Nimrod Park residents take back their park
The grass has been trimmed, but the park is still in poor condition, with the entrance to the toilet block requiring further clearing, possibly with a brush cutter.
The Nimrod Park Committee, in partnership with Aston Manor Primary School principal Werner Botha, has stepped in to maintain and restore the park within the enclosed suburb.
With ongoing efforts already under way, the team is now appealing to the municipality for support.
Once a hotspot for illegal activities and occupied by homeless individuals, the park had fallen into a state of neglect.
Signs of drug abuse and an overgrown ablution block marked the decline.
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However, the community has since begun to reclaim the space, cutting grass, cleaning up the facilities, and taking the first steps toward making the park safe again.
“Our next step is to equip the park with gym facilities and create a safe zone for families, especially children, to play,” said Botha.
“We want to transform the park into a clean, secure environment where the community can come together.”
Despite the community’s best efforts, challenges remain.
The grass has been trimmed, but the park is still in poor condition, with the entrance to the toilet block requiring further clearing, possibly with a brush cutter.
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According to Botha, although the municipality did respond earlier in the year, cutting the grass around February after several emails and support from the ward councillor, no follow-up maintenance has occurred.
Frustrated by the slow response, residents turned to the school and community leaders for help.
Ward 16 Clr Jaco Terblanche described the park as neglected, with outdated play equipment and little municipal intervention due to logistical issues.
“One of the biggest problems is that municipal tractors are in workshops for repairs, which has severely impacted park maintenance,” he explained.
“I’ve urged the Parks Department to cut the grass at Eland Road and Pienaar Avenue in Nimrod Park.”
In the absence of municipal upkeep, residents rolled up their sleeves.
Terblanche praised their commitment and confirmed that the community’s hard work is making a visible difference.
He cited a lack of caretakers and the presence of homeless individuals, some struggling with substance abuse, as key factors contributing to the park’s decline.
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Now, residents are requesting additional support: they want the grass recut to a shorter length and cleaned properly so the field can be used for recreational activities, including sports and ball games.
Terblanche added that efforts to improve the park’s safety are ongoing, with the EMPD, SAPS, CPF, and local organisations working together to tackle related issues.
He also encouraged residents to report safety or service delivery concerns directly to EMPD or the local ward councillor.
Kempton Express contacted the City of Ekurhuleni for comment on April 2.
At the time of going to print, no comment was received.
