Barberton Times has received numerous complaints over the years about the ongoing issue regarding Keller Park in Crown Street.

The noise and mess left behind on weekends and public holidays are reaching critical levels, while it seems that the local authorities are not doing much to enforce municipal regulations.

Although many requests have been made to the former Umjindi Local Municipality (ULM) over the past few years to devise a plan to put an end to the state of affairs, it would seem that nothing has been done as litterbugs continue to descend on the park every weekend and sometimes during the week as well.

Apart from the mess left behind by the revellers, the noise level is of such a nature that the surrounding residents are at their wits’ end.

A concerned resident recently wrote the following letter which was emailed to the municipal manager of the former ULM, Patrick Msibi:

“I would like to know what and if you have any intentions of enforcing the community park rules or even our beautiful town’s laws for that matter?

“I have on various occasions taken my children to the park in the afternoons and on weekends to go and play on the play area at Keller Park, but each time we had to turn away because of the noise and other unlawful and indecent activities that were taking place there.

“Vehicles are continuously parked on the grass around the play area making it unsafe for any child to play. Excessively loud music is playing more often than not, people are shouting at each other above the music, there are drug dealings openly taking place for everyone to see, and there are even people engaging in sexual acts without any shame.

“This park is a community park for families and children to come and enjoy the fresh air and play in the park, to come together and socialise and enjoy one another’s company, not to be exposed to this kind of unlawful and immoral behaviour.

“This community park has rules and these should be obeyed by all in order for our town to continue to remain the beautiful town that it is.

“In order for our children to continue enjoying this park, I would like to suggest that poles be put up all around the grass and play area to keep any vehicles from being able to drive onto the grass and play area. There is an area below the park where it is beautifully tarred for the vehicles to drive and park on, and vehicles should keep to this area. This will keep our children safe from being run over accidentally by the vehicles that keep on driving over the play area.

This grassy area is also being used as a shortcut from one side of the park to the other side. It seems that our community is lazy to use our perfectly tarred roads to get from one area to the other. Tar roads I believe are for the use of vehicles and grassy parks for people on foot.

“As a member of this community and beautiful town, I am not asking for much and I do believe that what I am asking for is not out of order nor is it unreasonable.

“I believe that our community and town can be such an excellent example to others, even for the rest of our country.
“I trust that you will take this letter to heart as you can make such an extraordinary difference in our community.”

Apart from Keller Park, Barberton Times received complaints from community members about the property adjoining Coronation Park which is mainly used for parking during rugby and other games. According to the locals, this “parking lot” is becoming a huge cause for concern as the same thing is happening here.

“We were taught from a very young age to clean up after ourselves, but it appears as if this basic rule, the one where you take other people into consideration, has not sunk into some people’s heads. I can honestly say I am speaking on behalf of many residents when I say we are fed up with being exposed to the mess that these groups of visitors leave when they depart. Not only that, but it has been witnessed that this plot of ground outside Coronation Park is also being used as a site for casual sex,” said a resident who wishes to remain anonymous.

He added that they (concerned residents) have no problem with anyone who desires to use the park, but added, “For crying out loud – be considerate! Do not use the place as a second-rate sex site and think about the volume of your music, as well as the times you hold these parties. Also, pick up the garbage and clean up the clutter that you created while making use of this site!”

A copy of this editorial has also been sent to Comfort Makhanya, director of community services of the former ULM.