George Lee sets the benchmark for City Parks
Much like George Lee Park, Joburg City Parks hopes to upgrade its public parks with new R1-billion partnership.
Sandton’s very own George Lee Park in Parkmore has set the benchmark for what Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) is hoping to achieve with its recent R1-billion partnership.
Announced at the Sandton public park on June 23 through an Action Imbizo, the partnership with the Johannesburg Parks Alliance is set to see the upgrade of a multitude of parks across the city, from the northern suburbs to Soweto.
According to City Parks general manager Sakhile Maphumulo, the imbizo aims to showcase existing projects and guide investors.
“This partnership paves the way for City Parks to secure large-scale, innovative and fully-funded private sector partnerships over a multi-year period to create more vibrant, green, safe and sustainable public parks.”
He added that with the constant budget constraints facing the entity, it has been unable to adequately fulfil its mandate. “Partnerships with the private sector, such as this one, will go a long way in not only maintaining these parks but updating their infrastructure and offering.”
Enjoyment Group Holdings founder Andrew Harris, who came on board over five years ago to give George Lee Park its facelift, added that the park was evidence that a transformation is possible and the results will not only benefit the park but the community in its entirety.
“In the beginning, the park had two groundskeepers, today we have over 100 people working at the park. Today, just over 10 000 people visit George Lee Park weekly to play soccer, tennis, cricket, parkour or to even just visit the Milk Bar restaurant.”
Johannesburg Parks Alliance chairperson Sunil Geness added that the establishment of the James and Ethel Gray Park in Melrose is another example of a successful partnership between the city, the community and the private sector.
“During the period of establishing the James and Ethel Grey Park adoption, slowly but surely the park began to take on a new complexion. More people got involved – volunteers, private security companies – and in turn more people started coming to the park.”
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https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/291151/city-parks-service-delivery-blitz-hits-marlboro-2/
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/309610/report-fallen-trees-to-city-parks/
