Brixton and Auckland Park committees meet in the middle
BRIXTON – Park walks take place to encourage the community to make use of the space.
BRIXTON – On the last Saturday of each month the Kingston Frost Park Committee organises an event at the park to encourage the community to make use of the space. Freezing conditions aside, 25 July was no different. The park days were started as a way to get residents (more specifically, children) to take ownership of the park and view it with a sense of pride.
About 20 children from Brixton, who have been regularly involved with activities and clean-ups for the last few years, came along. Also present were a few children from Children of Fire, and some children from Auckland Park. Three volunteers from the University of Johannesburg were present to supervise the children, alongside some adults who are joining in the programme.
Committee member Lucy Draper-Clarke explained, “City Parks has allocated money to improve the tennis courts, amphitheatre and to make the walkways more accessible for wheelchairs and prams. The money will also be used to improve the irrigation and lighting.”
Brixton Community Forum chairperson Mark Schaerer said that a proposal is being put forward for the improvement for the Brixton Steps, a walkway in the area. “The Brixton Steps are not the safest, but they are well used and this proposal aims to make them safer. We are looking at putting in a playground with 12 slides that go all the way down the steps and CCTV cameras are going to be installed as well. The problem is that the Johannesburg Roads Agency owns the land but if it gets named a park, then City Parks can maintain the 12 slides.”
The walk started at the park and went toward the Brixton Steps as a way of publicising the planned upgrades. The group then made their way to the SABC. Though the tour did not go as planned, the children enjoyed peering in at the 5FM and MetroFM studios to watch the DJs in action.
Thereafter, about 10 more volunteers from the University of Johannesburg came to clean up a section of the Steps while the children were taken for cold drinks and cake.
