IN an attempt to rejuvenate the historic Fort Frederick monument, the Mandela Bay Development Agency (MBDA) is currently conducting a zip-line feasibility study.
The zip-line proposal is said to connect the Fort Frederick monument to the Baakens Valley precinct, which will serve as a tourist attraction and for all Bay residents to enjoy.
Built in 1799 to defend the mouth of the Baakens River, Fort Frederick stands overlooking the harbour along Belmont Terrace in Central.
The MBDA’s intentions with the project are to ensure that the precinct is safe, secure and encourages recreational and commercial uses.
According to the MBDA’s project manager, Tamlynn David, the upgrade of an open park next to the site will accompany the zip-line project.
“The zip-line project is still in its planning phase. However, the consultants have looked at quite a few things in terms of the feasibility of the zip-line. The key focus here is the site identification of Fort Frederick and how we will implement the zip-line,” David said.
The over 200-year-old fort contains a powder magazine and a blockhouse, which has lost its timber upper storey.
Fort Frederick is also one of the initial buildings of Port Elizabeth, which sprang up around the fort. The monument is open daily, from sunrise to sunset and the admission is free.
The MBDA held a public meeting recently to discuss proposals and ideas for the upgrade and implementation of the Fort Frederick monument.
The public who attended the engagement discussed and reimagined the development by suggesting various concerns and ideas.
The main concern was the safety of tourists and residents.
One of the business owners said that most tourist attractions in the metro are not up to standard and in working order.
“We are advising that the MBDA go back to the basics to rectify and clean up the city.
“We are concerned about the vagrants and suggest that security monitor the park and zip-line facility,” he said.
David said that security will be provided and with the Central SRA coming into effect from July 2020, they will be instrumental in taking on security in Central which will include Fort Frederick.
David added, “The zip-line proposal will not work if things in the proposed space, such as vagrants, cleaning, maintenance and lighting are not addressed first.
“There is a list of things that first need to work before the zip-line can be implemented and will be communicated with all relevant stakeholders,” she said.
