Ward 74’s park adoption community meeting started off on a heated note

Heated objections and interruptions kickstarted the Ward 74 community meeting held at Pridwin Preparatory School on January 18.

The purpose of the meeting was to address and present a proposal to residents regarding the adoption of Henderson Park. Ward 74 councillor, Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku was given firm instructions from the City of Johannesburg that nothing concerning the Melrose Bowling Club could be discussed because it was sub judice and a matter before the courts.

Some Melrose Arch Ratepayers Association members in attendance consistently asked questions about the matter which was before the courts which saw some community members storm out as this was delaying the purpose of the meeting.

After several failed attempts to address the crowd, Kayser-Echeozonjoku, noted that the adoption process of Henderson Park was brought to her attention in December.

“I was alerted by officials that there is an adoption process and by-law enforcement, and illegal dumping and invasions were happening in the park. Officials have received proposals and are ready to present the proposal and City of Johannesburg’s Citizen Relationship and Urban Management (Crum) will oversee the process of public participation.”

MMC of Community Development, Lubabalo Magwentshu, said that the purpose of City officials attending the meeting was to address issues raised by the ward councillors on behalf of the community and explain the processes followed for park adoptions.

Park adoptions process

Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo’s- (JCPZ) business development manager, Bohlale Mohlate elaborated that the process of park adoptions involved advertising.

“We issue adverts through all citizens, community, and private sector organisations to come and join hands with the City in looking after our public open spaces. The reason for that is to assist the City because the City is facing resource constraints, and our public open spaces are not in the state that they should be.”

Mohlate added that when they advertise, it calls on individuals to come on board and support JCPZ.

The second step after advertising, City Parks receives submissions which are proposals which are later screened. The entity checks for alignment with its mandate of operation because it is responsible for preserving the green public open spaces of the city.

They work with other entities which include the environmental department, Johannesburg Road Agency, Johannesburg Water, Pikitup, JMPD.

“The entity invites proponents to present their proposals to adopt a park or to implement projects in our open spaces. After that process, the committee deliberates to see whether what has been presented aligns with the topography of a particular open space or not.”

After the deliberation, it advises the applicants of the outcome of the committee, this is then followed by the process of public participation where the community can sign by approving or disapproving the adoption proposal and the entity will be guided by the outcome.

Some of the things that will be bettered at Henderson Park

The upgrade will be implemented in a phased manner and sequence, to prevent environmental degradation and shall include:

• Provision of infrastructure enhancement by fencing off the park along Tyrwhitt Avenue and streets (approximately 525m) with ClearVu fencing and provision of gates, with access control from sunrise to sunset thereby radically improving the safety and sustainability of the park.
• General park clean-up and maintenance and augmentation of the grass-cutting cycle.
• Mobilisation of community volunteers, working with the entity and the CAP Green Team to increase community participation in cleaning activities as well as community engagement.
• Provision of more litter bins.
• Provision of ablution facilities with necessary approvals.

Senior manager for strategic planning and business development at JCPZ, Tumi Mputle explained that their budget was always tight, “We do not have a big purse and are saved when we partner with people and organisations for our public spaces. We are trying as the entity in charge, but we are failing due to the dwindling maintenance budget that we are faced with hence the proactiveness of inviting partnership help us maintain these facilities.”

The community and residents were given a copy of the proposal to read and go over before approving or disapproving.

The Johannesburg Metro Police Department’s spokersperson, Superintendent Xolani Fihla said the JMPD would still enforce by-laws and attend to any complaints whether the park is adopted or not as that was their role.

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