Litchi Street Park unveiled

The Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) launched Litchi Street Park, situated in Protea Glen Extension 28, opposite Protea Glen Primary School No2 on Friday, April 22.

JCPZ aims on contributing towards bringing liveable and safe parks to the community of Soweto. The development of Litchi Street Park costed an amount of about R2 million and therefore created jobs for local SMMEs.

The park features include large open lawns, a children's play area with rubberised surfaces, a picnic area, free outdoor gym equipment, a multi-purpose court, irrigation system and park furniture.

Sakhile Maphumulo from City Parks said, “This started during the City of Johannesburg's IDP process where the community is able to communicate about their needs. In this case the community requested for the development of the open space through the then ward councillor of ward 135. We then engaged the community on the concept of how they want this park to look.”

The concept of the park takes direct inspiration from the Protea caffra, South Africa's national flower.

“If you look at this park in a perspective view, you will see the Protea flower mandating from this design which is what inspired it. The Protea is an incredibly beautiful fynbos which attracts various birds and insects in its splendour, an apt representation of bringing residents of Protea Glen into a green space of oneness with nature,” he explained.

The former ward councillor Elliot Sithole, who initiated the park said that after having a community meeting with residents while he was still on his throne, the residents complained of an open space which was then utilised as a dumping site.

“I listened to the pleas of the residents for creating a park from an open space, I then took it to JCPZ. We should have opened the park last year but due to Covid, the project couldn't be completed on time.”

The former councillor is however relieved and excited that the park is finally launched and that other parks will be developed for the community of Protea.

“Residents should know that this is their property and take care of it and avoid issues of vandalising properties,” he concluded.