The city’s much anticipated Metro Park will officially be opened on 19 August.
The park, which will officially be handed over to residents by Executive Mayor Parks Tau on the day, is set to be a welcome green space in the inner city, providing residents a space to play, relax, and gather.
The park features a playground, outdoor gym, toilet facilities, amphitheatre and picnic tables.
According to the Johannesburg Development Agency which spearheaded development of the park along with Joburg City Parks, R13 million was invested to transform what was once a dumping spot into a green space in the city.
The agency added that about 200 indigenous trees had also been planted in the park, which was situated just south of the Mandela Bridge, running along Ntemi Piliso Street.
“The park will be an important gateway into the city and is flanked and can be viewed from two major bridges. It will form part of a greater park system ultimately linking across the rail yard to the north as well as east to west,” said the agency’s development manager Celestine Mouton.
Construction of the park started in May last year and was completed in September.
However, Joburg residents were yet to be impressed.
Responding to the City of Joburg’s Facebook post announcing the upcoming launch of the park, Joburg residents welcomed the opening of the park but questioned why it had taken so long.
“Why did the park take so long to open… it was completed in September 2013 and lay there unused for a full year… surely this is wasteful expenditure,” Nigel Branken commented.
“Lifespan on equipment is linked to guarantees on the equipment. One year of these guarantees has been wasted. In addition to this the landscaping has been maintained for a full year without anyone using it,” his comment continued.
Tania Sani commented, “Brilliant. Hopefully there is a maintenance budget from the COJ to maintain this facility to its current standard.”
