Residents accuse municipality of incompetence
The North Eastern Tribune has been inundated with calls from residents who have accused City Parks of wasting taxpayers' money.
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This after the entity planted and subsequently removed trees at the Jock Whyte Park in Sandringham.
Resident, Sarah Tomaz claimed she informed City Parks officials that the park was used by a junior soccer academy for practice sessions and match games. She said, “We have a large amount of people who walk dogs, take children up [to the park] to play sport. There’s also a remote-control model helicopter and plane club that uses the park, domestic workers also bring their children for a picnic, runners doing sprint training and even dog training takes place here.”
Tomaz added that staff members from the two old age homes close by bring the elderly to the park to watch the boys playing soccer or to just take in some park life.
Tomaz said she and other residents complained and suggested that City Parks officials should have done some research before planting the trees. She said, “I witnessed them planting and also saw them removing the same trees. They did, however, just leave huge holes all over the park, where the trees were removed and never bothered to close them up.”
She added that the entity should have rather invested in installing park benches along the Henry Avenue side of the park for spectators and players.
Tomaz is also trying to secure sponsorship to buy soccer goalposts. “I want to get them installed in our park, but that will be after getting permission from the municipality,” she said.
The entity’s regional manager, Jermome Ogle said the trees were removed to accommodate the women who play soccer in the park.
It remained unclear as to how much was spent in the planting and subsequent removal of the trees.
Related article:
‘Where have all the trees gone?’
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