Dumpsite to park site – bit by bit
A team of six volunteers are using the resources they are receiving from the community to change a dumpsite into a park to keep children off the streets.
A dream to see children playing in a park instead of on the streets is what motivates a Boltonia resident to work towards making that vision come true.
Lebo Motswe and five other volunteers are using their time to change a dumpsite into a park site in a bid to keep the youth off the streets.
Although much have changed since the NEWS visited the park in December last year, Lebo says that the rainy weather of the last few weeks and vandalism have made it difficult for them to make the progress they had hoped for.
“God puts one through a challenge to test you, and I surely am not going to let a few setbacks change my mind to create a park where children can play safely and just be children.”
His team that works from 7am until 3pm every day during the week has used the resources they have received with the help of samaritans in the community so that every one who walks in the park could feel welcome already.
They have placed tyres along the pathways, painted the kerbstones leading to the park green, planted flowers, eradicated weeds and have placed white stones to spell the words Boltonia Park.
The bins they received to use as litter bins have been placed neatly and he hopes to finish building three braai stands.
“The community needs to come to this park and enjoy time with their family and friends. We want to ensure that they have a good time here.”
Lebo says although there is still a lot of work to be done, he hopes that the community can help by contributing materials.
He needs bricks and cement for a lapa that he wants to build, chains for the entrances, and paint in any colour for the tyres and swing structures.
His other dream is that the communities from the surrounding areas also will start taking care of their parks and make them child-friendly.
“Krugersdorp used to be a very beautiful place. It had beautiful parks of which one could be proud of. If we don’t do something ourselves now, there will be nothing beautiful about our parks.”
For more information on the park and how to become involved, contact Lebo on 074 447 6647.
