Perspective: Green lungs are essential for a healthy town

I think the waters are getting muddied in our discussions over KwaDukuza municipality (KDM)’s desire to sell a third of Townsend Park to allow for a mosque to be built (4 000 sq m to be exact).

My personal opinion is that I have no problem with a mosque and certainly Ballito may need one. Muslims have just as much right to a place of worship as Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and any faith under the sun (and I am confident an appropriate site can be found for this).

The crux of the matter is that there is only one proper park in Ballito. The green area in Zen Drive is too small and densely vegetated to cater for bike riding, soccer games and certainly any circus or fair.

A park is not just a random square of grass to be sold to the highest bidder, it is both a green lung and essential for a healthy community. This has been recognised the world over:

• “Easy access to parks, green spaces, and recreation areas is critical to the wellbeing of urban communities. From improving the health and wellness of urban citizens to creating a healthier physical environment, city parks are vital to the future of America’s cities” – City Parks Alliance, USA.

• “Open spaces play an integral part in maintaining the environmental integrity in most settlements. Projects implemented under this focus area (restoring parks and green spaces) contribute not only to the maintenance and the integrity of the natural environment but also plays a significant role in the biodiversity conservation, social and physical well-being of the human population…” – South African Environmental Affairs department.

In 2013 the municipality proposed to build a large community hall at the same park where the current Scouts Hall stands and the reaction was much the same. There was a massive outcry in protest (a petition against the hall was signed by 1362 residents). Little has changed.

The park is still pivotal to community life and is well used by its residents of all colours, faiths and cultures. If you visit the park on almost any day of the week you will find the locals are very busy at play. Sweaty men, women and kids are playing Footy and netball or doing lunges and squats under the trees. There are skateboarders and kids riding bikes on the old tennis court, kids on the jungle gyms, the scouts learning survival tricks, dog walkers a plenty and more often than not a wedding or birthday celebration in the Scout Hall.

The little piece of natural forest known as the Butterfly Park behind the hall is full of winding pathways and the resident monkeys are often chattering in the trees above you as you walk. We even once came across a little blue duiker that may have come through the fence from Zimbali.

Townsend park has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I have climbed almost every tree (and fallen out of my fair share), trained and walked my dogs, learnt how to ride a bike there and now more recently we taught our three-year-old boy how to ride his bike at the very same park.

Growing up in Townsend Road my two best friends, Elizma and Christelle de Scally (who lived a few houses down from us), and I spent a great deal of time there. We had a secret society (inspired by Enid Blyton’s Secret Seven) and would walk the streets selling fudge and coconut ice to raise money for the SPCA. Memorable moments in the park include the SPCA Pet Lookalike competitions, visits to the circus, many of my own birthday parties and today my thrice weekly visits there with my two boys to play.

Aside from the value of the park to residents, whenever a new building is to be erected town planning considerations such as parking, traffic congestion and anything that may impact the neighbourhood must be considered. This is not an anti-religious or racist attitude. These are very practical and fair considerations.

Following a number of community WhatsApp and Facebook group discussions on the matter I am also picking up that many residents feel betrayed, both by the municipality and our ward councillors (and the Democratic Alliance which they represent).

Namely that KDM has seemingly selected the land (and discussed it with the buyer) without a hint of consultation with residents who they represent and are employed by. It has been presented in such a way that any objection even on procedural grounds is inevitably going to be portrayed as racist and/or anti-Muslim. And because it is in a DA ward it is also inevitable that the DA would be painted the same way.

I hope to see the DA councillors standing firm with the residents at the community meeting on Tuesday night (more on that in our front page article). We cannot have a party represent us that falls apart at the slightest criticism.

Of course this is far from over. The public participation process is due to begin soon, though we are still waiting for a date from KDM. Make sure you take part and get your voice heard.

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