The jungle gym’s and fun, child-friendly play equipment on George Lea Park are no longer being used.
On Saturday 11 June, when one would expect a park to be buzzing with activity, a Sandton Chronicle journalist went into the park and was greeted by an unexpected silence. There were no children in sight and the park was completely deserted.
A Sandton-based teacher, Kezz De Buys said, “I remember going there with my family every Sunday when I was younger. It was a highlight for me and my brother. We used to play on the jungle gyms and water slides and make new friends. We would often see the same families there every week.
“We bought ice-creams from the guy on his bicycle and this was our weekend treat.” De Buys went on to say that she is very sad to see how run down the park has become and believes that it is no longer safe enough for children.
Read: George Lea Park makeover
Kate Wardle, the deputy chairperson of the Parkmore Community Association (PCA) has decided to salvage what once was a childhood haven. She explained, “As part of the George Lea Park clean-up, a number of items of play equipment have been restored and are being moved to Shandon Way Park for the next generation of children to play on.
“This play equipment was gifted to Parkmore by the Sandton Council in 1977 and we felt it was important to retain some of these iconic pieces, including the witch’s hat. We had to choose those items that comply with today’s health and safety legislation, so while you may have grown up enjoying the giant slide, we, unfortunately, cannot move it.”
Wardle added that City Parks agreed to allow the association to adopt Shandon Way and restore and move the play equipment. “The PCA will also undertake the longer term maintenance of the park.”
She added that this upgrade has been planned and worked on by a volunteer community for the past two years. “A key challenge was to find a sponsor to assist with the cost of stripping lead paint and installing rubber safety matting and fencing,” she said.
Wardle said that she is very grateful to all community members who have offered their time and services to the project. “I am indebted to the volunteers who worked tirelessly on this project to draw up maps of proposed locations for the equipment, taking measurements and contacting suppliers.”
Read: George Lea Park dwellers
In a formal adoption letter from Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo to the PCA, it was stated, “[The upgrades will] promote community cohesion [and] healthy lifestyles through outdoor recreational activities.”
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