The great disparity between the northern and southern parts of the city is a well-known
fact. While attempts are being made to develop the south, the problem of creating a
sufficient amount of quality parks and
recreational spaces remains unresolved. Local government also finds itself unable to
maintain such existing facilities to the required standard, due to competing priorities
for the allocation of already-constrained budgets.The SMSS contains some of the most
significant parks in Johannesburg, including Wemmer Pan. The backlog in the provision of
parks is found mostly in Soweto and Orange Farm, as well as in the Johannesburg CBD where
a definite lack of open space exists (SMLC: LDO, 1997). The backlog will cost R300 - 400
million to redress. Parks in all townships in the SMLC are either non-existent or
generally poorly maintained. A standard of approximately 2,87 ha of parkland per 1000
people, has been proposed for the SMLC.
The three largest public parks in Johannesburg are Delta Park, Zoo Lake and Emmarentia
Dam. These incorporate, or surround, fairly large bodies of open water - a feature common
to many of these man-made habitats (Butchart, 1995). Alien trees like the Weeping Willow Salix
babylonica, American Plane Platanus occidentalis, Tipu Tree Tipuana tipu
and Jacaranda Jacaranda mimosifolia, are common in parks, while
indigenous species include the Wild Olive Olea europea, White Stinkwood Celtis
africana and River Bushwillow Combretum erythrophyllum. No larger mammals
are found in parks, due to the changed landscape of dogs and people, but feral cats and
lots of birds can still be seen (Butchart, 1995).
Since 1977 Coccos (the Co-ordinating Commitee for Community Open Space) representing
the municipalities in and beyond the Johannesburg Metropolitan area, has been developing a
trail system intended to link
rivers, ridges and open spaces (The Johannesburg City Council Public Relations Office,
1987) . To date 12 trails have been officially opened, namely Braamfontein Spruit Trail,
Parktown and Westcliff Urban Walk, Sand Spruit Trail, Mervyn King Ridge Trail, Jukskei
Trail, Randlords Heritage Walk, Outspan Spruit, Klein Jukskei Trail, Bert Close Nature
Trail, Kloofendal Trails and Roodepoort Falls Trials. The trails are there because of the
ever increasing public need for informal recreation closer to home. The Urban Trail Code
is as follows:
- Respect all property, wildlife, plants and trees;
- Please don't litter;
- Please be cautious at road crossings;
- Prevent grass fires;
- Arrange trail groups of two or more people as sections of the trails are isolated;
- Please don't trespass on private property;
- Keep dogs under control;
- No motor vehicles or motor bikes are allowed in parkland areas;
- Hikers make use of trails at own risk (The Johannesburg City Council Public Relations
Office, 1987).
In the northwestern parts of Soweto no open space system exists, or has
been developed, despite the zoning of the area indicating the existence of available space
for these purposes. Declared parks in the Southern Metropolitan Local Council are:
PARK |
AREA (m2) |
TOWNSHIP |
Loveday
Memorial Statue |
100 |
Johannesburg |
Twist Street |
620 |
Johannesburg |
Old Fort Bank |
120 |
Johannesburg |
Oppenheimer
Park – Dev Park |
2 480 |
Johannesburg |
Smit &
Queen Elizabeth |
342 |
Johannesburg |
Oppenheimer
Park Pond |
15 |
Johannesburg |
Trump Street
Park |
285 |
Johannesburg |
Rissik Street
Island |
2 044 |
Johannesburg |
Village Road
Park – Dev Park |
1 951 |
Johannesburg |
Jorrison/De
Korte |
2 040 |
Johannesburg |
Von Wielligh |
488 |
Johannesburg |
Twist Street
Hillbrow |
545 |
Johannesburg |
Top Star Park |
734 |
Johannesburg |
Braamfontein
Rec |
800 |
Johannesburg |
Hiilbrow Rec
– Car Park |
75 |
Johannesburg |
Jack Mincer
Park – Dam/Pond |
365 |
Johannesburg |
De
Korte/Harrison |
583 |
Johannesburg |
Attwell
Gardens |
4 955 |
Johannesburg |
Library
Gardens |
3 720 |
Johannesburg |
Monument King
George Street |
420 |
Johannesburg |
Hillbrow Rec
– Tennis Courts |
1 600 |
Johannesburg |
Hedley
Chilvers Park |
9 247 |
Johannesburg |
Hillbrow
Soccer |
10 244 |
Johannesburg |
Hedley Chivers
Pond |
80 |
Johannesburg |
Hillbrow Rec
Centre |
3 420 |
Johannesburg |
Man St Hollard
Park |
4 084 |
Johannesburg |
End Street
Tennis |
19 368 |
Johannesburg |
Precinct 1
Quarts Street |
7 000 |
Johannesburg |
Twist Street
Hillbrow |
545 |
Johannesburg |
The declared parks in the EMLC are listed in the table
below.
PARK |
AREA (m2) |
TOWNSHIP |
Belluvue Park |
9 870 |
Bellevue |
Alec Gorshell
Park |
2 664 |
Berea |
Fuller Park A |
4 000 |
Bertrams |
Fuller Park B |
1 000 |
Bertrams |
Morris Freeman
Park Rec Centre |
200 |
Bertrams |
Hofland Park |
14 845 |
Bezuidenhout
Valley |
Broadway /
Kitchener |
914 |
Bezuidenhout
Valley |
Compound Site
– Dev Park |
31 857 |
Bezuidenhout
Valley |
Hofland Park
– Car park |
2 058 |
Bezuidenhout
Valley |
Hofland Park
Rec Centre |
7 062 |
Bezuidenhout
Valley |
Hofland Park
Tennis Courts |
8 042 |
Bezuidenhout
Valley |
North Ave. Bez
Valley Island |
509 |
Bezuidenhout
Valley |
Stand 1314
& 1315 |
24 208 |
Bezuidenhout
Valley |
Eleventh Ave /
Bex Ave |
5 918 |
Bezuidenhout
Valley |
Hofland Park
Swimming Pool |
3 843 |
Bezuidenhout
Valley |
Eleventh Ave
Bez Valley |
180 |
Bezuidenhout
Valley |
Ellis Park
Developed |
17 750 |
Doornfontein |
Ellis Park
Precinct |
|
Doornfontein |
| Ellis Park Car Park |
6 250 |
Doornfontein |
Ellis Park
Tennis |
20 000 |
Doornfontein |
Ellis Park
Swimming pool |
6 000 |
Doornfontein |
Jules Street
East |
3 875 |
Jeppestown |
Muuray Park
developed |
21 904 |
Jeppestown |
Murray Park
Sportsfield |
6 708 |
Jeppestown |
Murray Park
Library |
390 |
Jeppestown |
Murray Park
Pool |
3 080 |
Jeppestown |
Alexander
Developed |
68 053 |
Jeppestown |
Jules Street
West |
9 439 |
Jeppestown |
Sir Abe Baily
Dev Park |
13 986 |
Jeppestown |
Bertha Solomon
Rec Centre |
1 560 |
Jeppestown |
Alexander
Undeveloped Park |
136 859 |
Jeppestown |
Sir Abe Baily
Tennis |
2 380 |
Jeppestown |
John Page
Drive |
5 426 |
Jeppestown |
Bertha Solomon
Park |
7 920 |
Jeppestown |
Benbow Park |
5 390 |
Kensington |
Mackie Niven
Park |
35 478 |
Lorentzville |
Troyville Park |
17 546 |
Troyville |
Cavendish / St
Peter Park |
4 867 |
Yeoville |
Yeoville Rec
Centre |
320 |
Yeoville |
Yeoville
Square |
2 500 |
Yeoville |
Yeoville
Swimming Pool |
7 064 |
Yeoville |
Cavendish / St
Georges Park |
2 210 |
Yeoville |
Rockey Village |
5 632 |
Yeoville |
Pullinger Kop |
21 977 |
Berea |
Mitchell Park |
9 455 |
Berea |
Donald Mackay
Park |
15 783 |
Berea |
JZ de Villiers |
14 378 |
Berea |
Tudhope Park |
2 000 |
Berea |
Honey / Fife
Park |
506 |
Berea |
Jager Street
Park |
2 480 |
Berea |
Saratoga
Avenue Park |
2 640 |
Doornfontein |
- The eastern areas have numerous natural pans and lakes, while the west has many ridges,
which creates the potential for natural parks to be created. These areas have very high
conservation and preservation potential, together with the other natural features of
Greater Johannesburg. Aside from naturally occurring open space, these areas do not have
as much parks and recreational space as the northern suburbs.
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.
EMLC 1997: Land Development Objective. EMLC:
Sandton.
SMLC 1997: Land Development Objective. SMLC: Jhb.
The Johannesburg City Council Public Relations Office 1987:
Johannesburg Trails/Wandelpaaie. GJTMC: Braamfontein. |
