CITY PARKS CALLS ON RESIDENTS TO MAINTAIN VERGES TO BEAUTIFY OUR CITY
Johannesburg City Parks has tabled a proposal to the City of Johannesburg to consider formalising the accepted practice of residents taking ownership by maintaining verges adjacent to their residential properties. The proposal is still being considered and has not been formally adopted by the City of Joburg.
City Parks will continue to ensure that main roads, key intersections and public amenities including business hubs are maintained. This includes the maintenance of all street trees in residential areas.
Similar processes have successfully been adopted by the City of Cape Town, and is also being implemented in cities such as eThekwini, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni where residents have absorbed the maintenance of sidewalks outside their homes, as an extension to their private gardens.
The aim is to provide equitable services to all residents in Joburg, as many residents in areas such as Alexandra, Orange Farm, Diepsloot, Kya Sands and Sandspruit do not have access to grassed sidewalks. We are also mindful that the City's budget for Johannesburg City Parks is historically skewed in favour of affluent or developed suburbs, as these areas have more parks, more trees and longer sidewalks and therefore, absorbs a huge portion of Johannesburg City Parks maintenance budget.
Savings realised from this process will be redirected to improving park maintenance in the City.
The Acting Managing Director of Johannesburg City Parks commended residents who are currently maintaining the verges outside their homes and added, "the simple act of beautifying the entrance to our home has far-reaching social and economic benefits''.
Residents are invited to comment on this and any other issue that concerns City Parks by emailing[email protected] or contact us on twitter on #JoburgParks or on Facebook on JoburgParks.
Statement issued by Bryne Maduka, Acting Managing Director of Johannesburg City Parks, May 18 2012
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