STATE
OF OPEN SPACE

• The composite analysis of parks and open space shows a relatively poor situation over the whole of Greater Johannesburg. In the far north a combination of rural open space and unutilised land is found, with small tracts of degraded land. The Randburg, Roodepoort, Sandton and Alexandra areas are built up, with little open space and parks. To the west of Randburg a dam and cemetery provide open space, together with a few areas of degraded land (i.e. land with soil erosion and loss of soil fertility) to the east. North, northeast and northwest of the Johannesburg CBD open space in the form of cemeteries, recreation/sports facilities and institutional enclosures are found. To the south of the CBD, as well as in Soweto, large areas of unutilised land can be found. To the east of Soweto large tracts of degraded land can be seen next to cultivated land, while some cemeteries are located to the west. Cultivated land can be found to the south of Lenasia. Most of Greater Johannesburg is built up and fully developed, and has insufficient open space in the urban environment.
• There are currently many pieces of unutilised land in the metropolitan area that has a lot of potential for both environmental use as well as development. The choice between developing or conserving these areas depends on whether the land has been subjected to mining activity; the type of development taking place in and around these open spaces, and appropriate land use for the area.
• Apart from unused open space, there are also planned open spaces that are used for recreation. On average the northern residential suburbs of Greater Johannesburg enjoys more than 21m² of open space per person, whilst the southern areas have less than 10m² per person.
• Suburban gardens occupy a large proportion of the Johannesburg environment. These open space are very important to the city, as they provide shelter and food for many birds, insects, butterflies, lizards and frogs. Fallen leaves also protect the soil from drying out and thus reduces water needed (Butchart, 1995).
• In the Metropolitan Open Space study conducted in 1994 by Mark Wood Consultants, the following responses to questions were recorded for the former local authorities within Greater Johannesburg.

• An analysis of existing open space provision per local authority is as follows:

• The MOS study for Johannesburg did not include the whole of the current SMLC area and did not cover Orange Farm. The most comprehensive studies here include Woods (1993) and the COCOS study of 1986. The Klipriviersberg and Gatsrand hills are imposing features in the SMLC, followed by the wetlands of the Klip River and Klipspruit, as well as the sensitive Rietvlei area (SMLC: LDO, 1997). The southeastern parts of Soweto include a lot of open spaces, such as the Olifantsvlei wetland area.
• In the southwestern parts of the SMLC there are significant amounts of open space which, however are currently being used for commercial or urban agriculture. Well-established recreational parks can be found in Lenasia.
• The driving force of urban development creates a loss of agricultural land and biodiversity in the SMLC.
• Most recreational facilities in the WMLC, e.g. tennis courts, libraries and club houses are to be found to the north of Main Reef Road, in the wealthiest parts of the area. Despite the fact that most facilities are concentrated here, the area also enjoys attractive natural features, whose use for passive recreation and environmental orientated programs should be explored. Extensive facilities are being built in the Ruimsig and Tres Jolie areas. Some of the most popular recreation facilities include the Little Falls Pleasure Resort, the Witwatersrand Botanical Gardens, Kloofendal Nature Reserve and Florida Lake, all located in the established suburbs in the northern parts of the WMLC (WMLC: LDO, 1997). The agricultural areas in the west around the Princess area appear as a major opportunity for development.
• Active recreational facilities in the form of sports facilities are mostly situated in the north around the Johannesburg CBD, Roodepoort, Randburg and Sandton. Fewer facilities are found around Soweto, south of the CBB and in Lenasia. No sports facilities exist in the far northern (e.g. Diepsloot) and southern (e.g. Orange Farm, Weilers Farm) parts of the metropolitan area.
• Open land in the WMLC takes up 7,8% of the land area. This open land is however not categorised into defined functional units. Land for housing is in high demand, and open land available for these purposes has to be justified within the framework of sustainable development, if it is to maintain its present status (WMLC: LDO, 1997).
• The map of Open Space per person shows the ratio of open space in m² per person. People in the north have on average more than 21m² of open space per person, with some areas like Fourways Gardens, Rosebank, North Riding, Helderkruin and Megawatt Park having in excess of 151m² per person. People in the south have on average less than 10 m² per person. Some areas like Mulbarton, Robertsham, Naturena and Lenasia Extension 11 compare well with the northern areas with ratios ranging from 100 m² to well over 150 m² per person.
• Conservation Potential is mostly very low in Greater Johannesburg, with the highest potential lying in an east-west zone from the west of Roodepoort to the north of the Johannesburg CBD, as well as to the south of Southgate in the Kibler Park area. A very important area also includes the Klipriversberg area. These areas include natural features, such as rivers and ridges, as well as already proclaimed and protected areas. Other high potential areas can be seen in the far north, west of Dobsonville, north and south of Lenasia, west and south of Ennerdale, southeast of Orange Farm and east of Weilers Farm. The conservation potential in the Johannesburg CBD area as well as in the northern suburbs are relatively low.
• The development potential is quite the opposite, with the highest potential being found in the northern parts of the metropolitan area, and around the CBD zones. Development potential is low where ridges, rivers and conservation areas already exist. Geotechnical constraints such as unstable slopes and drainage problems also decrease the development potential in the metropolitan area, but increases the opportunity for conservation potential.
• Agricultural potential is the lowest along ridges and high slopes and increases on more level ground.

REFERENCES

Butchart, D. 1995: Wild about Johannesburg: All-in-one guide to common Animals and Plants of Gardens, Parks and Nature Reserves.Southern: Halfway House.

Mark Wood Consultants 1994: An Investigation into Metropolitan Open Space. Volume 1 & 2. CWRSC: Jhb.

SMLC, WMLC 1997: Land Development Objective.

The Geographic Information files are WinZiped and  best viewed with ArcExplorer - (Click to download)