Turning greenbelt into a community park
STRUBENS VALLEY – The fence is up, now for the rest of the project.
Residents of Little Falls and Strubens Valley have vowed to take ownership of their greenbelt, hoping it will ensure the safety and lifestyle of all who enjoy a family walk in the park.
Lifco (Little Falls and Strubens Valley Residential Community) aims to establish a safe, fun and sustainable lifestyle in the neighbourhood starting with putting up a fence at the beginning of the greenbelt, adjacent to Christiaan De Wet Road.
On 24 September, residents around the Strubens Valley Park greenbelt gathered as the first holes for erecting the palisade fence were dug. By mid-October, the fence was completed.
The fence and greenbelt clean-up cost the community R44 500. Residents and local businesses jumped in by helping with overseeing the project, donating materials and supporting the initiative.
“Local unemployed people were tasked to put up the fence,” Hennie Schreuder said, speaking on behalf of the Lifco’s chairman Reg Mazibuko at the gathering.
“By taking the greenbelt into our own hands, we and our children can enjoy the park, knowing it is safe.”
Ward 85 councillor, Carl Mann said it was a pleasure working with the community.
“I want to commend the community for buying into the project. These are the types of communities that we need to partner with the City [of Johannesburg] to be able to do this. These things can be achieved when communities work together with a ward councillor. It can happen, as it did. The power is in the community,” he said.
Mazibuko said Lifco appreciated the support from Mann and residents who contributed but said that more can be achieved if more residents of the 2 100 houses in the area contributed to Lifco’s projects.
The fence has a 3m gate and a pedestrian gate. It will be unlocked every morning and locked again every night by SRT, a local security company. The company will also monitor cameras in and around the greenbelt once they have been installed.
In another project, Lifco and the Lakes Park Committee plan to upgrade the lake and park area to turn the entire greenbelt into a community park.
Details: To get involved at Lifco visit www.lifco.co.za
