Sandton resident cleans Innisfree Park
SANDTON – A concerned resident has taken matters into her own hands as Johannesburg City Park seemingly fails to deliver, leaving the Innisfree Park ridden with broken shards of glass.
The Innisfree Park on Katherine Street in Sandton remains to be a state of concern as litter and broken glass bottles line the open space.
Sandton resident Beryl Porter, has taken matters into her own hands, dedicating a few hours each day to clean the park after City entity Johannesburg City Parks and Zoos (JCPZ) failed to respond, according to her.
On 13 January, the Sandton Chronicle first reported on the state of the park in the article Glass makes Innesfree Park ‘unsafe’ [Week ending 31 January]. City Parks spokesperson Jenny Moodley had said that the entity would clean the park by the end of January regardless of its ‘seasonal horticultural backlogs’.
“To ensure that the park is restored, JCPZ has secured the services of a contractor to cut and deep clean the park. All work will be completed by the end of January,” Moodley said.
Following a recent visit to the park on 11 February, Porter pointed out that nothing had changed, “I really don’t know what to do any more, it has been over two months since the festive season.”
With a broom, dustpan and packets in hand, Porter spends a few hours at the park each day. She said that it may take her longer to get the job done as she can only do it section by section but at least it will make a difference. “I have picked up loads of glass around the labyrinth – placed in plastic bags as well as cardboard boxes into the dustbins.”
She added that the dustbins themselves have also not been emptied. Packets filled with glass and litter, which she placed in a week prior, still remain.
Innisfree Park is enjoyed by all members of the community from both Sandton and Alexandra, which is what makes having a clean and safe space so important, Porter added. “There were several soccer players barefoot playing on the lower field, and I was too scared to see if they would sustain an injury from the broken glass on the grass.”
Moodley was contacted for an updated timeline but no response had been given at the time of going to print.
Related articles
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/246879/innisfree-park-unsafe/
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/206449/peace-in-the-park/
