Decline in Orange Grove Park sparks renewed calls for community adoption
Once a cherished green refuge, Orange Grove Park has fallen into disrepair, but residents and City Parks say partnership could be the key to restoring its pride.
Orange Grove Park, once a leafy escape for families, dog-walkers, and joggers, now tells a far sadder story.
Broken fencing, overgrown vegetation, litter, and visible vandalism have turned the public space into a shadow of its former self, leaving residents worried about safety and the future of the park.
Ward 73 councillor Eleanor Huggett says the decline is rooted in years of inaction and limited municipal resources. “This is fundamentally a law-enforcement and maintenance issue. I have constantly asked for more security and vigilance in all our parks, but JMPD and SAPS are running on a shoestring.”
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Despite the frustration, Huggett has voiced her support for residents adopting the park as a practical way forward. “With the current administration, it is going to continue to rely on residents, with my support, to do what needs to be done. I have regularly attended clean-ups myself, but what is really needed is consistent maintenance and upkeep.”
Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo has encouraged this kind of community involvement in the past, through its Adopt-a-Park initiative. City Parks spokesperson Jenny Moodley said the programme is about partnership, not privatisation. “Adoption does not mean a park becomes exclusive or closed off. Parks remain open and accessible to everyone. Community involvement helps improve maintenance, safety, and pride in these spaces, while City Parks continues with core services and oversight.”
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Moodley pointed to success stories across the city, where adopted parks have seen reduced vandalism and increased use, driven by residents who care deeply about their neighbourhoods.
For Orange Grove Park, the message is clear: While the challenges are real, so too is the opportunity. With residents, City Parks, and local leadership working together, there is still hope that this tired green space can once again become a place where the community gathers… Safely, proudly, and with a sense of shared ownership.
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