Casseldale community unites to clean parks
The group endeavours to also clean areas surrounding Casseldale.
The Sector 3 CPF and community members banded together to clean the parks around Casseldale.
Theo Maree was inspired to organise a clean-up after driving past Wilhelmina Park. Something he saw unsettled him.
“I drove past the park on Tuesday and saw the top of a car. I couldn’t see the rest because the grass had grown so long. I was uncomfortable with that because I didn’t know if it was people doing nothing or if something more nefarious was taking place. That is why it’s so important to have the grass cut – to monitor activities in places like this.”
By Wednesday, Maree had already rallied his team from the Rainbow Education Centre to start the clean-up. They began by removing the trees that had fallen due to extreme weather or the metro did not remove.
Soon afterwards, other individuals and the CPF had joined to help and the initiative took on a life of its own.
The chairperson of the CPF, Andre van Heerden, said it’s sad that residents pay rates but must still clean their parks.
The clean-up has become an all-round effort because the group believes it also helps to fight crime.
“When there is criminal activity in the area, and we give chase, the criminals come through this park and lay low in the dense and overgrown bushes, making it almost impossible to track and catch them.”
Van Heerden said it has also become a safety concern for children and motorists.
“People, especially children, who come and spend time at the parks are in danger of getting hurt due to the broken bottles scattered all over the place, the used needles and the snakes that have started to populate the park.
“Motorists regularly almost get into accidents because they can’t see each other at turns.”
Van Heerden and Maree have commended the residents of Casseldale for coming together and for their shared efforts.
“We are united. We have come together as a community and made a difference,” remarked Maree.
“A special thank you goes out to Theo and Franco D’Arrigo. Franco donated a tractor and a slasher, and Theo provided the labour and grass cutters,” said Van Heerden.
Maree proudly thanked this team.
“All the credit goes to the team from Rainbow, who have dedicated their time to work tirelessly on the school grounds and in the park.”
The cleaning will continue until the parks are clean.
