Dunville Park: From cherished park to rubbish dump
The Dunvillle Park on The Bluff is slowly becoming a rubbish dump. Litter is everywhere, making the once cherished ground a dumpsite.
A RESIDENT of The Bluff is calling on the parks department in eThekwini Municipality to clean Dunville Park which is becoming an eyesore.
Ivor Aylward said the park used to be popular, however, over the years it has become an eyesore due to negligence. The swings are broken as they have not been fixed in a while. Litter is everywhere and the grass is overgrown.
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Aylward, the former chairperson of the Bluff Ratepayers Association, urged residents to take a proactive role in safeguarding their public infrastructure.
“The underlying reason for poor service delivery in our communities is the absence of effective leadership. During my tenure as chairperson of the Bluff Ratepayers Association, we ensured that the parks were well maintained and vibrant.
“The managers tasked with overseeing whether staff is fulfilling their duties are failing to properly supervise them. The Dunville and other parks on The Bluff were once pristine, but now, with their abandonment, they have become dumping grounds due to the lack of upkeep,” said Aylward.
Ward 66 councillor, Zoë Solomon, said despite ongoing challenges in the Parks Department, there is a new team in place under the leadership of a new horticulturist. “The lists of parks, open spaces, and stairways and pathways, is under constant reporting to expedite the service that the ratepayers deserve,” said Solomon.
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She urged the community to list and report all uncut and overgrown spaces to the Parks Department.
On February 1, members of the Tidy Teams rolled up their sleeves and cleaned the park on the corner of Tambotie and Geelhout streets. The team has been proactive in cleaning neglected parks on The Bluff in a bid to beautify public parks.
To report overgrown and uncut spaces, email the Parks Department on eservices@durban.gov.za and the ward councillor on ward66@ethekwini.org.
People are urged to attach a photograph on the email. Alternatively send a WhatsApp message to 073 027 5432.
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