The Parys Wetland Park will be a buzz of activity on Saturday, February 28, when cyclists, runners, bird watchers and all who enjoy nature’s beauty, will be flocking to this jewel in the centre of town. After months of planning and collaboration between the Parys Wetland Park project committee, Ngwathe Local Municipality, sponsors Damlaagte Solar and Sasol, and many stakeholders and community members, the official opening of the Parys Wetland Park will finally take place.

A milestone achievement born from the dedication of a small group of volunteers and stakeholders who generously shared their knowledge, time, and effort to rehabilitate the wetland area for the benefit of the wider community.

The official opening will be hosted at the corner of End Street and Fourth Avenue, sponsored by Ilikwa Solar. All are welcome to attend. Remember to bring a chair if you want to enjoy the day’s activity in the Wetland.

Program

06:00-08:00 – guided bird watching outing and exhibition organised by Feathers Bird Club and Parys WADER

08:00-09:00 – community fun run/walk (1km, 2km and 3km routes)

09:00 – official ceremony and ribbon cutting

10:-00 -12:30 – Parys Wetland Mountain bike challenge

The Mountain Bike Challenge is arranged as follow:
10:10 start for the 6km (3 laps) for kids 13-18 years.
10:15 start for the 4km (2 laps) for kids 10-12 years
10:20 start for the 2km (1 lap) for kids 7-9 years

10:30-12:30 – Wetland Education Session with schools

All events are free!

Our wetland – our responsibility

Although significant progress has been made through the support of partners and sponsors of the Wetland Park project, the responsibility now rests with the community to step up and help keep the wetland clean and protected. The wetland holds remarkable tourism and recreational potential, but this can only be realised if the area is cared for in a way that safeguards this sensitive ecological habitat and the many people who benefit from it.

Transforming the wetland to its current state required sustained effort to remove years of accumulated household and garden waste, as well as large volumes of building rubble that had been dumped over time.

In recent months, the community and Ngwathe Local Municipality made a focused effort to clean the arena area, clear pathways, cut back trees, and address invasive plant species.

This work, however, marks only the beginning. Decades of neglect have left layers upon layers of rubble and waste that will take time to address, and the continued development of trails and facilities will unfold progressively as the project grows.

We invite you to visit on Saturday and witness how an underutilised space has been transformed into a welcoming and accessible wetland environment — a first step towards a sustainable ecosystem that can be safely enjoyed by all communities.

The project stands as a powerful example of collaboration: bringing people together, engaging schools in environmental education, and creating exciting cycling and cross-country routes that are already enriching what Parys has to offer — with many more improvements still to come.

The Parys Wetland area

The Parys wetland area stretches from Tumahole down to the bottom of the Mimosa Gardens, and starts at a natural fountain behind the Viva Filling Station in Parys’ industrial area It connects schools, the industrial area of Parys and residential areas – an area of about 40 hectares.

The rehabilitation of the Parys Wetland Area aims to not disturb or change the wetland environment as it currently exists, but preserve it. The size and location of the wetland also makes rehabilitation possible in phases.