George Sutter Park needs TLC
The pond might be well-kept, but the surrounding park is in disarray.
Kathy and Henry Preston have fed the ducks and geese at the George Sutter Park duck pond for about 10 years and have no intention of stopping anytime soon.
With the help of other individuals and AfriForum, they restored the pond to its former glory after it dried up and now maintain it and daily feed the birds living there.
“The birds are like our babies,” Kathy said. “They come running whenever we arrive because they know we feed them.”
They use Daleen Botha’s gardening services every other week to maintain the grass and plants around the pond.
The duck pond might be well-kept, but the rest of George Sutter Park outside the fenced enclosure of the pond is in disarray.
The rubbish bins are overflowing and are reportedly never emptied, litter lies in heaps around the park, and the children’s play area is so overgrown no child could safely play there.
Petrus Gerber, who lives in the apartment complex across from the park, says on most nights, people drink and play loud music at the park, then throw their bottles over the fence into the pond.
“I see kids breaking the beer bottles scattered around the park, and it is difficult to clean up because the glass goes in all directions,” Gerber said.
