GANDHI PARK – After numerous attempts to keep the park in Silwer Street neat and tidy, it seems a silver lining is still nowhere to be seen.
A resident in the area, who wished to remain anonymous said it was a shame seeing the park the way it was.
Read: 3 million goes to waste on neglected and vandalised community park
“Aside from the blatant neglect over the years, the park is just not being used for the purpose of being a play park. The equipment is damaged, there is litter and rubble everywhere and now to add to the already long list of problems, its covered in over grown grass,” she said.
She said the overgrown grass concerned residents as it could easily become a breeding ground for snakes. Another concern was that there were no lights at the park, this together with the overgrown grass also contributed towards crime.
“The lack of lights and over grown grass is making it easy for criminals to hide away and target innocent victims who still walk through the park grounds.”
She stated that she had noticed empty glue and alcohol bottles pilling up at the park, evident of drug and other substance abuse taking place there.
The resident said over the last 15 years, she had hoped the municipality would upgrade the park, as it holds many childhood memories for her, however, it has never become a reality.
“The equipment which is currently at that park, is the same old equipment I used to play on as a child,” she concluded.
Director of Community Services Parks, Recreation and Cemeteries, Vish Govender, said the park was frequently maintained, however, the amount of rubble and household refuse which is being dumped there has now made it nearly impossible for the municipality to cut the grass, as the tractors will be damaged.
He is appealing to residents in the area to stop dumping their household refuse in the park, and to report illegal dumping in the vicinity on 034 328 7724.
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