Blockwatch, community and other stakeholders join hands to keep neighbourhood clean
Various role-players pitched, and with gloves and rubbish bags, made light work of cleaning up the park.
Len Rutter Park was bustling this past Saturday, as community members came together, to not only participate in the weekly parkrun but also lend a helping hand to clean up the park.
The initiative was a collaboration between the Florida Block Watch (FBW), Florida Park Neighbourhood Watch (FPNW), AfriForum, KCCC Rehabilitation Centre, Help24 Security, EC Security, Leandra Real Estate, Debonairs, Mr Bin, Pikitup, Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo, Hoërskool Florida and Laerskool Florida as well as community members.
Lavina Garnie, the FBW secretary, said that the clean-up is an annual event that is held at Len Rutter Park as well as Lockies Lane Park and added that they do these clean-ups to try and restore the beauty of the park areas and unite the community.
Lavina said, “We have been doing a clean-up at the Len Rutter Park for the past four years, as the park lies within the mandated borders of the FBW area. This year’s clean-up was joined by FPNW which is headed up by Lorenzo Rheinecke and the park along Golf Club Terrace, north of Louis Botha was attended by residents from the FPNW area. In future, as resources are made more available we will focus on doing more clean-ups.”
She said that, for these types of initiatives to be successful, more residents and/ or community members need to come on board and participate, as many hands make for lighter work.
“In order for South Africa to improve and change our current downward trend to an upward trajectory, community members need to get more involved in positive and uplifting community projects. Talking about how bad everything in South Africa is, will not resolve our situation. We have to complain less and do more positive work!”
Monique Brink from Leandra Real Estate added, “As the area’s specialist real estate agents, it is of utmost importance that the environment is clean, neat and safe. This is also a priority for any potential buyer. We are proud to be associated with this initiative, where we can ensure any potential buyer in this area that this is exactly what they will get!”
