Woodstock park dangerous, say residents

TRAFALGAR Park, in the heart of Woodstock, was once a popular recreation spot. But now residents are up in arms about its deterioration into what they describe as a haven for vagrants.

Despite its picture-perfect view of Table Mountain, the park has become dangerous to visit, they claim, and is underused and becoming rundown.

The city confirmed parkgoers might feel uncomfortable with the growing number of vagrants, along with the illicit activities taking place there.

But they’re encouraging residents to reclaim the space.

The park was established in 1905 for the residents of District Six, then known as East End Plantation.

In the centre of the park stands the French Redoubt, also known as the Central or the Frederick William Redoubt, which was declared a national monument in 1968.

It is a type of fortification, which was part of a French line of defence hastily constructed in 1781.

The fenced-off area also has benches, swings and a path for cyclists and dogs on leashes.

Parkgoers Masibulele Dzingwa and Magic Kiewit said this week the park was a favourite spot but was becoming dangerous.

“I have been hanging out here during my free time from work for a few years now and I normally take short naps.

“But now I can’t do that any more because when I wake up I find that some of my belong- ings have been stolen,” said Dzingwa, who works at a fishery in Victoria Road.

Another park user, who did not want to be named, said he remembered going to the park with his family when he was young.

“We used to hang around and play here but now it’s not safe because of the homeless people who hang about here during the day.

“I still walk through the park sometimes, because it connects me to the main road from my home.”

Johan van der Merwe, the city’s mayoral committee member for energy, environmental and spatial planning, agreed the park was not being “used optimally as a result of safety concerns”.

But he said work was under way to improve it.

“A formal upgrade has been on the cards for some time.

“Some upgrades have been done to the heritage resources, the swimming pool and fencing but the new emphasis is on integrating the entire park, which will encourage a sense of community ownership and increased use.”

Although no specific plans were in place, Van der Merwe said the city was working closely with the community to come up ideas for improvements, which would be undertaken in phases.

A good way to improve safety, he stressed, would be for the local community to use the park more.

Once a plan was finalised, the city would go ahead with the phased planning of the upgrades.

asanda.sokanyile@inl.co.za