In the hopes of preserving some of the natural beauty remaining in Edenvale’s urban spaces, Edenvale Ridge residents took it upon themselves to breathe life back into Frank Marrett Park.
Located at the top of the Avenues in front of Edenhaven Retirement Village, the park is one of Edenvale’s hidden gems. However, without help from residents like Michael Anderson and Neil Heron the park would not look as it does today. Michael, who moved into the suburb in 2000, said remediating the dam and the surrounding park was a lengthy process taking several months. This was largely caused by overgrowth and silt in the dam.
“Much of the silt removed from the dam was done so by hand.” Instead of throwing the silt and dirt away, volunteers and those working on the dam used it to pack a portion of the dam wall higher. Michael said the surrounding community also raised R15 000, which was spent on 44 indigenous trees planted around the dam and the park. He said the water flow of the dam was also improved by changing the outflow point of the dam to ensure as much water movement and to prevent the dam from becoming stagnant.
Neil Heron, a conservationist who lives in the area and has assisted Michael with the project, said since work started there was a resurgence of wildlife. Approximately 120 different species of birds have been spotted at the park including white sacred Ibis, Pied Kingfishers and African Spoonbills. Neil said birds of prey such as fish eagles from Modderfontein and black-shouldered kites have also been spotted flying around the dam.
Other mammals that reappeared include large spotted genets, otters, three different species of genets as well as bats. Neil said the reappearance of birds and mammals is a sign that the dam is doing well and the ecosystem is thriving. He explained that small dams, like the one at Frank Marret Park, not only act as migratory stepping stones for animals but also assist with the filtration and dispersing of stormwater.
“The dams give the water time to filter out heavy metals from the roads and construction sights before it flows into the Jukskei River. It is similar to how a sponge would soak up debris and allow clean water to pass through.”
Although Michael said projects like this might not mean a lot to other individuals, it means a lot to him. He said the park and the area surrounding it are frequented by community members.
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“As we all know population density is a problem across the world but as much as development is needed, green spaces need to be provided by the municipality,” said Neil.
“We need green spaces around us for balance, they are essential for us, not only as human beings but to reduce costs on municipal budgets, to improve the ecosystems and to reduce flooding,” explained Neil.
Ward 19 Clr Bill Rundle commended Michael, Neil and the other community members for their efforts. “It’s very encouraging to see community members getting involved and trying to preserve royal land. We need to get more community members who share an interest and a knowledge involved,” said Rundle.
Neil too thanked Michael for his hard work. “Everyone should be as concerned as Michael is. I’m not doing it for the recognition, I’m doing it to preserve the area and ensure future generations can enjoy it.”
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