The residents of Jeppestown and adjacent communities will soon have an opportunity to gather in the soon-to-b-opened space to keep fit and healthy.
Families in the area, social groups and sports teams now have a place to host home ground tournaments in Oval Park and Bertha Solomon Recreation Centre.
The Johannesburg Development Agency is implementing this project as part of the Eastern Gateway Precinct master plan and as a way of easing the strain on limited open spaces and parks as a result of the increase in the population in the inner city.
The existing Bertha Solomon Recreational Centre is a heritage building and the community centre was opened in 1949. The upgrades include an outdoor gym, soccer fields, playgrounds, a community vegetable garden, minor works to the three buildings to be electrical compliant and a new caretaker’s facility.
The JDA engaged residents and other park users in the process of designing a safe, accessible, inclusive, and sustainable public space through participatory tools and methods.
“The Oval Park is a vibrant community recreation centre that will have a positive effect on the lives of young people from the area who will now be safe when using the park for physical activities like dance, martial arts, yoga, basketball, and other sports.
“The community centre will encourage healthy exercise habits, participation in sports which will promote teamwork,” said Cllr Belinda Echeozonjoku, the Member of the Mayoral Committee for Development Planning.
During the upgrades, the local SMMEs executed over 40% of the scope and acquired experience, guidance from the independent construction mentor and training on business-related aspects.
“The facility will be handed over to the Department of Community Development – Sports and Recreation for use very soon,” said Cllr Echeozonjoku.
Themba Mkhize, the Councillor for Ward 61, said: “The upgrade of Oval Park will have a positive impact in the community. The facility is well-structured for sports diversity, as most relevant sporting codes are under one roof. This will indeed benefit the community in ward 61.”
The Inner City Eastern Gateway precinct is one of the 10 projects identified in the corridor, including the Gilfillan Park project, which was spearheaded by JDA and received a commendation for excellence in urban design at the Institute for Landscape Architects for South Africa (ILASA) awards 2019.
Staged every alternate year, the Awards of Excellence of the ILASA celebrates the work of the profession; giving specific recognition to work that has gone beyond the professional standard expected of landscape architects at any stage.
04/04/2022