Parks in Fontainebleau are unsafe
Crime, vagrants and lack of maintenance keep resident from taking his daughter to two Fontainebleau parks.
Fontainebleau resident Derek Lloyd is too scared to take his 20-month-old daughter to the park.
This is because the two parks closest to where he stays, Fontainebleau Park and the park next to Cherry Drive in Randpark, are not maintained and are unsafe.
Both have long grass and the larger park, Fontainebleau Park which is next to Rabie Street, has vagrants living in it.
“There is crime there,” said Lloyd about Fontainebleau Park. “My wife works nearby and has witnessed a shooting and has seen gambling and illegal trade.”
“You can’t take your child or dog there. Drug dealing happens so if you see something that is the end of you. I still have hope though. I come from Cape Town where things get done, so I believe things can improve.”
Ward 104 Councillor Mike Wood has met with residents and raised their concerns about Fontainebleau Park with the authorities.
“We are working to resolve these issues,” Wood said. “The Joburg Park Rangers conducted a raid on 28 January. I have also asked the Linden police and the Metro police to raid the park.”
He added that City Parks said it would clean the park and the Johannesburg Roads Agency said it would clean the storm water drains and road verges around the park.
“We are also trying to get people involved in the Child Safety Centre opposite the park, because if that is busy the vagrants will leave.”
Details: Ward 104 councillor Mike Wood, 082 853 2174.
