Being one of the most densely populated areas in Nelson Mandela Bay, Schauderville has had a lack of safe outdoor recreational facilities and children were forced to play in the busy roads.
This is slowly changing, especially after the municipality recently spent more than R1 million to create a safe space for children by upgrading a playground in Ward 11.
The park, situated in St Nicholas Road, was recently officially opened by the metro’s MMC for public health, Thsonono Buyeye, accompanied by public health executive director, Sizwe Mvunelwa and Ward 11 councillor, Graham Gelderbloem.
Several newly constructed slides in various colours, a jungle gym and strategically placed benches adorn the huge space.
Families will also be able to have picnics on the luscious green grass surrounding the playground equipment. A new fence has also been erected for safety purposes.
During the opening of the park, officials were assisted by learners from Abraham Levy Primary School to plant trees in celebration of Arbor Month, which occurs in September every year.
The learners were also educated by the various speakers on the importance of celebrating Arbor Day every day, and not just during Arbor Month, by planting trees and taking care of the environment.
The upgrade forms part of the city’s outdoor space upgrading and greening programme to improve the environment.
“This is also the start of programmes that the municipality will be embarking on throughout metro as part of Arbor Month,” Buyeye said at the launch.
Gelderbloem marked the opening of the park as an historic moment. “This park will assist with addressing the social ills in the community. Our children don’t have to be running around in the streets, they can play here and enjoy themselves,” he said.
“I am hoping that the community will take care of this park because it is an asset.
“It is not the municipality’s park; it belongs to the people who live and work here and we need to take care of it,” he added.
Mvunelwa addressed the children at the launch directly and said that this is one of the most beautiful parks that he had ever seen in Nelson Mandela Bay.
“The purpose of this park is for use by the young ones. This is a place where you can play and stay out of trouble.
“Use the park. Enjoy the park and do not use it to do wrong things.
“We are also encouraging you to plant trees at home so that Arbor Day can be celebrated every day,” Mvunelwa said.
Community members were ecstatic about the upgrade of the park and said that they had been waiting for something like this for so long. “The previous park was in a poor condition and there was nowhere for the children to play,” said resident, Randall Williams.
“I am hoping that the residents would take responsibility and keep the park clean.”
