By Shoneez Bulbulia
2 minute read| 28 July 2023| 14:20 CAT
A R3 million rand budget has been allocated for the development of a new park in Extension 13. Members of the public were invited to a meeting on Sunday/ today, held by Ward 9 Councillor Imraan Moosa and officials from Joburg City Parks and Zoo.
25 Thousand square meters of land at the corner of Azure Street and Nirvana drive has been demarcated for the project.
Inputs and contributions towards the building of the park can be sent to imoosa57@gmail.com or WhatsApp to 0828051368.
Contractor Solly Mokoena said the park will be fenced off to ensure security firstly. “The park will include an outdoor gym, mini combo court, braai facilities and picnic spots, children’s play areas and a refurbished soccer area.
City Parks Molefe Seale said:”We will finish with the design work and need a months period to get a contractor that will be doing this and we giving a three month period to complete the park. This can start by September.”
An excited extension 13 resident who attended the meeting, Rashid Gaffoor, suggested a name, Azure Park.
” I think we should have a short name for the park. I’d also like to suggest a skateboard park and place for people to rollerblade,” said Gafoor.
Centre Manager for Tiba Services for the Blind, Farnaaz Waja, applauded the initiative. “Councillor, we appreciate this positive development. We want to uplift the people around us and this community, including the youth and adults. They can use the park for sporting activities too and it’s a good recreation facility and resource.” Tiba offices are situated across the vacant land which will now be used for developing the park.
Another resident from the area, Thato Magodhla, said the current budget “can’t sustain all the things we want but we must embrace what we have on the table right now.” She advised the community appreciate what was offered and “utilize this to the best of its ability and this is a good starting point.”
Moosa said the park was one of the initiatives he had been trying to get for a very long time. With Integrated Development Planning (IDP) processes we submitted requests and it’s like a wishlist. Sometimes the city doesn’t have funding. We are fortunate they offered us this opportunity and we welcome it positively and want to make a difference to the
“Let’s look at different ideas and from people staying in the area can also present us with their valuable information to present and guide us and look at it as a collective.”
Another resident from extension 13, said children can’t even play on the streets. “Let’s bring our community back and our children’s youth. This is a project that will assist the community irrespective of colour black, white, coloured or Indian.”
Other members of the public offered similar sentiments, saying “our kids will be occupied and off the streets away from drugs and other bad elements.”
The councillor suggested the public partner with City Parks to ensure the community space is well maintained and not abandoned once the project is completed. “The public should utilize and maintain their park, avoid vandalism and this will make a difference.”
Moosa said Jake’s Karolia, from Public Safety and Security, will assist ” in terms of ensuring security in the area.”
The councillor said he was both humbled and proud that “This initiative is taking off the ground. I am excited that Lenasias vagrant grounds are utilized according to the needs of the community. Our purpose is to uplift Lenasia and improve our area to ensure we get optimum value for our residents.”
Meanwhile other members of the community, represented by Imraan Seedat from the Lenasia Residents Association, raised issues and concerns about lack of toilet facilities for the new park, security and the chances of taxis abusing the location as a rank.
Other extension 13 residents have requested the finances instead be used for building of a skills and recreation centre instead of a park, or a few smaller parks within the extension, instead of one large park on the main road entering the extension. Concerns and frustrations have also been raised by some parties about activities in parks from drug trading, drinking and sexual abuse. But communities have been urged to take responsibility for their urban spaces.
Activist Media Fellow for Action for Accountability, and a fellow resident from that area, Hlengiwe Dlomo said it was important for the public to attend meetings and support each other towards better community development. She noted that such projects were also under scrutiny by Action for Accountability.
The councillor explained that entities budgets and issues cannot be passed over from one entity to another. “Each entity has it’s own budgets in terms of inputs that were handed over by the IDP processes of the city.”
Seedat said the LRA is delighted that “our recommendation for the much overlooked area in Lenasia has been considered by the city of Johannesburg. The speed in which this budget has been approved is wonderful news.”
But he has asked Councillor Moosa to provide his organization with more information around how this transpired around the IDP.
Moosa replied, saying inputs from the community were considered. ” As a result City Parks has allocated this unused grounds for the use of a park.”
He referred further questions to Seale at the City of Joburg.
Speaking to Radio Islam this morning, Seedat said he is awaiting a response from Seales office.
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