Disgruntled Savoy and Waverly residents adopt derelict Weinberg Park
Savoy Estate Residents Association (Sera) and Waverley Ratepayers Residents Homeowners Association (WRRHA)'s vision for Weinberg Family Park includes: planting trees, maintaining infrastructure, and fixing the fencing.
Savoy Estate and Waverley residents are becoming agents of change. Tired of not being able to properly use the Weinberg Family Park because of its state of disrepair, they have asked the council for permission to adopt the large green space.
The adoption is being facilitated by the Savoy Estate Residents Association (Sera) and Waverley Ratepayers Residents Homeowners Association (WRRHA). A community meeting was held in the park on March 23 to update members of the public on their plans to improve the park which should start soon. While some people believe it is unfair that ratepayers should be expected to roll up their sleeves and help maintain their areas, Joburg City Parks and Zoo spokesperson Jenny Moodley said active citizenry is encouraged by the city. When people take ‘ownership’ of public spaces, they are generally looked after better.
“Litter, vandalism and the disregard for public spaces is a huge concern and has cost implications on the ratepayer base. Maintenance of these facilities remains a core competency of Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo,” she said.
However, she added that residents who want to help turn their suburbs into wonderful places to live, are encouraged to join hands with the authorities and do their bit too. In partnership with the city, residents can bring on board their ‘local security companies to complement the policing of parks and to encourage residents to use their local parks responsibly and to keep it vibrant’.
Waverley resident Jeff Afriat, who works closely with WRRHA, said adopting the park is a positive move by residents. “A park adoption is a contract that we as the residents’ associations enter into with City Parks and they permit us to do what we can. This includes maintaining fencing and infrastructure.” Afriat explained that the process of adopting a park includes telling City Parks the plans that wthe residents’ associations have for the park and what their budget is.
“First and foremost, we will have a parallel process at the [Weinberg] park. We have a park adoption process because we must acquire the rights and there will be rehabilitation happening in the park that we have not dealt with. A lot depends on how efficiently the rehabilitation is done. The meeting was also to get the community’s support in the form of signatures on the application for the adoption.”
WRRHA chairperson Tracey Lavers noted that the association is working on a joint adoption of Weinberg Family Park, as a portion of the park falls within Waverley. Savoy resident Sarah Hopkins said she is looking forward to the park being rescued through the park adoption process because she will finally see where her rates and taxes go in terms of service delivery.
Residents expressed their excitement at the prospect of being able to, once again, safely enjoy the improved space. “People deserve a public green clean space where one can enjoy nature and socialise. More importantly, children can return to the park and be safe to play,” said Savoy resident Jason Bome.
The Community Action Protection (Cap) area specialist, Nicole Marcus said the security company is proud to be a part of the WRRHA and Sera’s park adoption process. “Cap already has dedicated teams working within the Savoy and Waverley community.
“This includes our full security solution, as well as our green team, which will continue to assist with cleaning.”
Problems to be addressed While the resident’s involvement in the park is good news, the authorities have much work to do on their end. The park is littered and has leaking pipes and holes in the ground. Ward 74 councillor Belinda Echeozonjoku explained that her latest efforts in addressing the lack of service delivery and the deteriorating park include a letter to the city manager of Johannesburg sent on March 16.
Concerns raised in the letter:
• Weinberg Park is a mess. The Joburg Water contractor was supposed to complete the repair of the sewerage line which has a hole in it, in six months, but it’s been more than a year. The contractor dug up holes in the park, which are filling up with sewage and have become an environmental disaster.
• Lennox Road, next to the park, has leaking pipes and is unusable.
• The reinstatement across the ward remains undone and children could fall into these holes.
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