Let’s fix the jungle gym
PARKMORE – Donate to a cause and help restore the jungle gym at the Field and Study Park.
The Field and Study Park in Parkmore has been a standing community site for over three decades.
Situated in the heart of Sandton, the wooden jungle gym that has been on the land for almost 30 years is now in need of some TLC.
Community member Rose Johnson, who has been the guardian of the park, would like to appeal to community members and businesses to donate toward the jungle gym’s facelift.
Dedicated to her community work, Johnson was awarded the Paul Harris Fellow from Sandton Rotary a few years back for all her contributions over the 24 years at the park and on other projects.
“Our grand old lady, as I call her, has been here from the very beginning. Fifteen years ago, the park was divided into two portions, with 30 acres of open land and nobody to look after it. I offered to do so and formed the Friends of Field and Study NPC (FOFS) with four other residents.”
She added that at the time, the broken down jungle gym was the only thing on all those acres of space.
Johnson said that the first thing FOFS did when they took over was restored it to its former glory – of course with some generous donations offered from the community.
“Parks was about to remove it and that just couldn’t happen. For the past 15 years, FOFS has maintained it and kept it in good condition for the second generation of children who come to the park with their parents who also played on it once before.”
With such a rich history and engraved within the community, Johnson said that today’s generation must experience the park the way their parents did.
“Our wonderful jungle gym circuit is in need of a makeover for safety reasons. We are appealing to those who remember their good days playing on it to donate toward the cause for the future generations.”
The costs to repair the jungle gym are estimated at R10 000 including labour and wood. Johnson also mentioned that a carpenter or handyman is needed currently to assist with the urgent parts while they raise funds.
“FOFS is committed to protect, preserve and promote the park and its environment as it gets harder every year.”
If you would like to get involved and donate, visit www.fofs.co.za or contact Rose Johnson at rose@fofs.co.za
