Public spaces play an important part in communities
MIDRAND – Ward 112 councillor Madeleine Hicklin weighs in on the importance of public spaces for communities.
Public parks play a very significant role in communities as they offer residents a space to interact with each other and meet new people.
It also provides great spaces for events and for people to engage in entertaining activities and gives residents an opportunity to develop a sense of community. Parks can be utilised for picnics, concerts or any other physical activities.
Ward 112 councillor Madeleine Hicklin said public parks form a very important green lung in any city.
“Unfortunately, there are too few parks in Midrand that can be used as meeting and socialising areas, especially for families and children. Many of the parks that do exist, have not been sufficiently well maintained as parks that encourage social intersection,” she said.
Public parks provides a safe place to interact with one another and helps to keep people off the streets and out of trouble.
Hicklin also urged that residents should stop using public parks as drinking facilities instead of recreational facilities. She said some people who come to the parks do not tidy up after themselves and they leave plenty of litters after utilising the facilities.
“It begs the question: Would you leave your own house the way you leave the park? If the answer is no, then one has to question why litter is left lying around in the park.
“We need to develop a culture where we leave a facility in the state we would like to find it, littering is a serious problem across the city and we need to address it as adults and set an example for our children to follow.”
Hicklin concluded, “There are very positive moves afoot – but more always needs to be done. The challenge remains to find the budget to accommodate all the requests the City receives – for parks, multi-purpose centres and relaxation facilities.
“The most appropriate way of directing these requests is at the Integrated Development (IDP) Sessions where ‘wish lists’ for parks and the like are created by communities through engagements with their councillor and the City of Johannesburg. The Region A IDP Session is on 6 April at the Rabie Ridge Community Hall.”
