Metro Park, just south of the Mandela Bridge, is a welcome green space in the inner city, and will give residents in the concrete jungle space to breathe, play, relax, and gather.
The much-anticipated opening of Metro Park, a recreational facility just to the south of Mandela Bridge in Newtown, is set to open soon.
Mpho Parks Tau, executive mayor of the City of Johannesburg, is expected to officially hand over the park, running along Ntemi Piliso Street, to Johannesburg residents on the day.
The park development was spearheaded by the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) and Johannesburg City Parks; the organisations spent R13-million to convert what was once a dumping spot into a “green lung”: a green space in the city. About 200 indigenous trees have also been replanted in the park.
“The park will be an important gateway into the city and is flanked and can be viewed from two major bridges. It will form part of a greater park system ultimately linking across the rail yard to the north as well as east to west,” said Celestine Mouton, the JDA’s development manager.
Construction on the park started in May 2013 and was completed in September 2013.
The park, which features a playground, outdoor gym, toilet facilities, amphitheatre, a lawn for, and picnic tables will be beneficial to children who live in the area’s high-rise buildings.
Earlier this year, the South African Landscapers Institute (SALI) recognised the park as an excellent example of construction design at the annual South African Green Industries Council convention.
Marina Landscaping, the company the JDA appointed to develop Metro Park, was honoured with a Gold Award of Excellence in the Landscape Construction with Design by Others category for outstanding design and development on the facility.