Residents, schoolchildren and businesses gathered at Petersfield Park on Friday morning to clean up the grounds.
The initiative was started by Isabel Grobler, who began cleaning up the park one afternoon and ended up with a wheelbarrow full of rubbish.
“I thought to myself, why does it look like this?
“There is no reason why it should, especially because it is a family place.
“It’s easy to say it’s not our job to clean it up, but it is our responsibility.
“We have to acknowledge our problem, initiate change and together we can make a difference,” says Grobler.
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Those who turned up on the day included local business people, learners from Laerskool Jan Van Riebeeck, representatives from Ekurhuleni Parks Department and people from the community.
Ward councillor Dean Stone was grateful to the people who turned up, saying they were stars.
Vhugala Mbedzi-Maluleke, the head of Area 1, which Springs falls under, explains the process people need to follow if they want to use the park for an event.
“The event can only be held during 6am to 6pm, and depending on the activities that are planned, there are certain guidelines that need to be followed.
“If it is a fund-raiser for a non-profit organisation, the metro can waive the fee they usually charge.
“For more than 200 people, there needs to be an emergency plan in place and an ambulance,” says Mbedzi- Maluleke.
To apply to host an event at any metro parks, the applicants must write a letter requesting permission and submit it to the parks department, which is located on the fourth floor of the Springs Civic Centre.