FOUR years ago an open piece of land located between Millennium Boulevard and Zenith Drive in uMhlanga was a downright eyesore.
The council-owned land was used as an illegal bus rank. Dozens of buses parked on the verge, not only polluting the air with their exhaust fumes but also eroding any greenery that happened to grow on the edge of the site.
Now, through the vision and determination of the Ridge Management Association (RMA), the site has been tuned into a brightly-coloured eco-friendly children’s playground.
According to RMA member, Aden Scholtz, who has been directly involved in the revamp process, the council had, through an agreement, ‘loaned’ the land to the association.
“They allowed us to start developing the left side of the park, and then when the buses were finally removed we were able to start on the right side as well,” he said.
“As the RMA also manages the Chris Saunders Park, we realised that there were no real facilities to cater to the needs of young children, and so the idea was spawned,” he explained.
Today, the site holds several plastic playground equipment as well as seating areas surrounded by a beautifully-fenced area. The majority of the plants are indigenous.
All of this, said Scholtz, was funded by the levies paid by association members.
Scholtz said the association planned to keep improving the facility.
“It is constantly evolving and we are planning to add more facilities to the playground such as jungle gyms, a small pond and even a small maze for the little ones. We are thrilled by how well the playground has been used by the residents,” he said.
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