Public park now for private use

Birdhaven resident Robert Kuhlmann said an almost 2m palisade fence around Henderson Park was erected on 30 and 31 May.

According to Kuhlmann, the park is regularly used by many people, including the bi-weekly social soccer club, dog walkers, picnickers and church groups.

Wondering what was happening, Kuhlmann said he approached a local security guard who informed him that the park was ‘given’ to Pridwin Preparatory School to use as a sports field.

Upon further investigation, Kuhlmann discovered that City Parks had allowed Pridwin Preparatory School to use this space as a sports field.

“This immediately concerned me as the park is meant to be a public space, open to all,” said Kuhlmann.

“Whilst I admire the spirit of Pridwin in agreeing to take over the management and responsibility for the [upkeep] of the park, I am still concerned about the long-term consequences.”

In a bid to assure residents of the intentions of the school, headmaster of Pridwin Preparatory School, Selwyn Marx explained that the fencing off of the park was merely the first step in maintaining and upgrading it.

“Pridwin’s involvement in Henderson Park is a partnership with St Vincent’s School for the Deaf,” he said.

Marx said both schools, on many occasions, used Henderson Park on an ad hoc basis for sports activities with the permission of City Parks.

“Recently we approached City Parks and offered to maintain the park and upgrade it. In exchange we requested permission to use it on a more regular basis,” he said.

“They were amenable to the proposal, provided we received the blessing of the Birdhaven and Melrose Rate Payers’ Associations and the local councillor.”

The schools have only been granted permission to care for the western end of Henderson Park.

“It should be clearly understood… that the two schools are not entitled to exclusive use of the space. This initiative is aimed at benefiting the entire community,” Marx added.

“The community will continue to use this part of the park as they always have. In fact, it will be more convenient for public use because it will be more beautifully maintained.”

Chairperson of the Melrose Residents’ Association, Lewis Neuburger, said the association received a proposal from Pridwin who wished to make some changes to Henderson Park: to take over maintenance thereof, to create better security, and to use the top level at the corner of Venus Street and Tyrwhitt Avenue as a sports field for their students.

“A safety fence was to be erected but at no stage was access to the park to be restricted in any way to residents and the general public,” he said.

“As this was felt by the residents’ association committee to be a good idea, our agreement to this proposal was given to Pridwin.”