Community comes together for a clean-up at Protea Park

Community members came together and lent a hand when a call to improve Protea Park was made.

Organised by River Ridge resident Donna Hempel, the clean-up was held in partnership with NPC Essentially Edenvale and fellow community stakeholders.

She said it was a last-minute initiative and the clean-up was the first of the park and surrounding area for the year.

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Last year Donna and the NPC kickstarted the revival of the park in July.

Having lived near the park for over 10 years, Donna said she fondly remembers when the park was utilised by the public.

She remembers the old dam and how the community would frequent the park enjoying the picturesque scenery.

She said over time and with a lack of maintenance in the park community members utilised it less.

Since initiating the clean-up initiative Donna said support has grown and continues to.

“There recently was a fantastic collaboration between the SAPS and the community to remove some of the vagrants who were sleeping in the park,” said Donna.

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“Without the SAPS the progress we made would not have been possible.”

Donna said with the use of brush cutters and a chainsaw, purchased with donations made by community members, the community is opening the river and the old dam by removing invasive plants. They are also rehabilitating the park.

This year Donna hopes to see support from the community grow.

“If each household around the park donated R50 it would make a massive difference in what we can do to the park.”

Speaking about the success of the clean-up, Donna said she was amazed by the great support from community members who had helped.

“We can make our community safe and look good at the same time.”

Three brush cutters were used on the clean-up day to maintain and cut back the vegetation.

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Donna thanked all of the residents who assisted on the day as well as Nuno Morais and Dr Larry Harmer from Dowerglen High for the use of their tractor to cut the lawn.

She also thanked Essentially Edenvale who asked the council to collect the rubbish and debris.

For more information about the Protea Park clean-ups, join the Essentially Edenvale Facebook group.