Fourways Gardens Transform Park

Fourways Gardens Residential Estate, in partnership with Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo and Ward 94 councillor David Foley, has embarked on a park adoption initiative. After two years of negotiations, City Parks has granted Fourways Gardens permission to adopt the Witkoppen Park extension located on Uranium Road, off William Nicol Drive.

The collaborative effort aims to convert the currently undeveloped open space into a fully developed park within a span of three to five years. The transformation will commence with the installation of a ClearVu fence scheduled for the coming month.

Joseph Ndou from Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo shared that their vision is to create a flexi park that will greatly benefit the residents. He expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, highlighting its potential to promote social cohesion, foster healthy living, and enhance community value. Enclosed or access-controlled parks instil a sense of safety within neighbourhoods while enabling effective management of public spaces.

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“This partnership serves the crucial purpose of preventing our open spaces from being overtaken by squatters,” Ndou explained. “The signed memorandum of understanding designates Fourways Gardens as the adoptive caretakers of the park. This allows us to allocate resources that were initially intended for this area to other less developed regions.”

Estate manager Charlene Marlin acknowledged the concerns surrounding the park’s current state. She revealed that Fourways Gardens contacted their ward councillor, who facilitated the connection with City Parks. Their collective goal is to uplift the community by providing a clean and secure space accessible to all.

Marlin emphasised the significance of partnering with local government to create a better community. Plans include:

• Enhancing the environment.
• Upgrading the landscape with the addition of more trees.
• Appointing a dedicated staff member to oversee the area.

Their aspirations extend to revitalising wildlife habitats, fostering the return of natural birdlife, and addressing pollution concerns.

Ward 94 councillor David Foley highlighted the key factors of peace of mind and safety resulting from transforming the open land into a beautifully maintained park. The project will involve:

• Cleaning the stream of litter.
• Removing invasive vegetation.
• Breathing new life into the area through the planting of additional trees.

The protected environment will facilitate the thriving of birdlife and small animals. Ultimately, the park adoption initiative represents a win-win situation for City Parks, Fourways Gardens, and the neighbouring residents, effectively transforming the Witkoppen area into a vast conservancy.

With this partnership in motion, the community can look forward to the park’s transformation, contributing to improved quality of life and greater harmony within the Fourways Gardens area.

Source: Fourways Gardens adopts a park

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Photo: Supplied by Fourways Review