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TUESDAY 27 October 2020 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | Email: post@peoplespost.co.za | Website: www.peoplespost.co.za
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People’s Post
CLAREMONT
Park in full flower again NETTALIE VILJOEN NETTALIE.VILJOEN@MEDIA24.COM
T
he once rundown Bishoplea Park situated near the back of Cavendish Square in Claremont has been transformed into a suburban oasis – a testament to what can be achieved when civil services, community members and local business owners take hands. Today the multi-use public park accommodates children’s play equipment as well as adult exercise equipment. Benches and tables are dotted around the park and are used by the staff of the nearby shopping centre and surrounding businesses as an outdoor space to enjoy their lunch. Pet owners walking their furry friends in the dog-on lead park and children playing on the slide, swings and roundabout, are another regular sight – all of this under the canopy of indigenous trees. However, two years ago, visitors to the park were met with a very different sight. Benches were broken, the surrounding fence had been pulled down in sections and the tar had worn away in several patches. The park had also become a hotspot for antisocial behaviour such as underage drinking. In stepped the Upper Claremont Ratepayers and Residents Association (UCRRA) and the Friends of Bishoplea Park (FBP). Wendy Whittaker, a member of UCRRA and one of the FBP’s leaders explains that the group was established about two years ago by local residents. Since then, it has grown to include 32 members. Whittaker says Bishoplea Park, which covers about 2 200 square-metres, always had potential but the upkeep of the park used to rely on intermittent cleaning and mowing from the council. As a result, it had fallen into disrepair. She says Ian Iverson, the councillor for ward 59, was made aware of this and he motivated for a part-time attendant to clean and maintain the park. “Gavin Wood, our park keeper, was initially assigned to look after the park for a few days a week. Now he is working there on a full-time basis. He has enthusiastically embraced caring for the park and working in the garden – planting and weeding,” Whittaker says.
Park Keeper Gavin Wood.
Children playing on the slide, swings and roundabout is a familiar sight at Bishoplea Park. With Iverson’s assistance, the FBP also arranged for the re-tarring of worn areas, the replacement of broken garbage bins, the repair and maintenance of the play equipment, the installation of adult exercise equipment and the addition of new benches and tables. A new perimeter fence was also erected. “Ian Iversen has been very responsive to appeals for help and council, together with help from the City of Cape Town’s parks and recreation department, has greatly assisted with providing plants and compost,” she adds. At their own cost, residents also bought and brought plants, such as clivias and agapanthus, which were mainly planted along the north side of the park. Learners from Grove Primary School dug, cleaned and
planted a bed of plants as part of their environmental studies. Whittaker says residents diligently kept these plants alive during the drought using recycled water brought from their homes. Another achievement is that the park is now producing its own compost. Assisted by FBG members, Wood dug two compost pits about eight months ago. Instead of collecting fallen leaves in black bags to be taken away, these are now thrown into the compost pits. A local coffee shop is also recycling its cardboard egg boxes, eggshells and coffee grinds into the compost pits. “As a result, we now have incredible compost to use on the flower beds that we have produced ourselves and with no extra cost to council,” she explains. According to Whittaker, what has become
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apparent is that by the community taking ownership of the park, a great deal has been done to beautify a previously underutilised space. Of equal value, she says, is that it has led to the building of community spirit, communication and involvement. In addition to use by dog owners, Cavendish staff, children and childminders, the park has also become a popular spot for children’s parties. Whittaker says FBP has also discussed the possibility of holding a small residents’ market, or an Easter or Halloween picnic at the park to introduce more residents to the space. “But with Covid-19, these ‘thoughts’ have been put on hold until next year,” she concludes. V For more information on UCRRA or FBP or to get involved, email Wendy Whittaker at upper.claremont.association@gmail.com.
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