Joanne Swanepoel complained that the park on Protea Road is very poorly maintained and is an eyesore.
Swanepoel complained that the grass is seldom mowed, the grass around the swing sets never gets cut and the cut grass never gets cleaned up.
Swanepoel also said the park is full of broken glass that poses a danger to the children who play there.
The park is heavily littered with plastic bottles, glass bottles, food containers.
Ward councillor Shadow Shabangu stated the park is abused and is not being used as it should.
“There is a licensed liquor store right next to the park and people come to the park just to drink alcohol and get drunk,” Shabangu said.
They then leave their empty bottles at the park and the children come and break the bottles.
People also loiter and sleep in the park.
Shabangu has asked for assistance from the metro police to curb the drinking and loitering.
Shabangu also added that the trash people leave behind gets blown into the storm drains and causes blockages.
The parks department is responsible for mowing the grass.
The grass is cut every seven weeks by a tractor.
”This tractor is not able to cut the grass around the swing poles and trees,” says Shabangu.
The people who cut the grass do not clear the cut grass and these pieces get blown into the storm drains as well.
Shabangu said he is going to ask the parks department for a weed eater that will allow for them to cut the grass around the swing sets.
The metro has failed to respond to comment queries.
