Cape Town - On a winter’s day last week, the Green Point urban park started stirring late in the morning. From a handful of cyclists and the occasional dog walker, there is a sudden rush of people, many with babies in prams and toddlers – snugly wrapped up against the cold – in tow.
Elderly couples and tourists with cameras wander along the paths admiring views of Cape Town Stadium, Signal Hill and Lion’s Head.
Facility manager Richard Mathieson said while the park has become a big attraction for tourists, a large percentage of visitors are also locals from across Cape Town.
Alisa Davids has driven from Retreat with her children to visit the park for the first time after hearing good things about it.
She loves the fact that it is enclosed so her children can play safely.
Taahier Viljoen, an Islamic teacher, had brought a group of youngsters from Bonteheuwel High and Bergsig Primary as part of a youth development programme.
“We decided to bring them out to expose them to outside activities. Most are soccer freaks but we’ll also be participating in some teambuilding games,” he said.
Parvaneh Razvan, on holiday from Iran, said the park was a beautiful place to visit.
She had visited it regularly when she lived in Green Point before returning to Iran.
It is also popular with older people.
Ernest Floyd from Plattekloof Glen was strolling through the park with his 97-year-old mother Sophie Floyd.
He said the park was one of the most incredible places to visit.
“This area used to be bog and marsh. Now it’s a pleasure to walk here.”
The 12.5ha urban park, which cost R576-million to set up, is a legacy project of the 2010 Soccer World Cup. The annual operating cost of the park is in excess of R10m per annum.
Some residents were sceptical when the proposal to develop the rundown Green Point common was proposed, but five years later the park is popular with about 700 000 people visiting every year, 40 percent of whom are children.
There are two play parks for children – one for toddlers and one for older children – a labyrinth, an outdoor gym and an amphitheatre.
A coffee shop is planned for the park with the City of Cape Town intending to tender within the next two months after an earlier process did not find a suitable operator.
There is a network of paths to cycle or run on and a Biodiversity Garden with over 300 different plant species, animal sculptures and a Khoi Khoi display.
Botanist Marijke Honig, who designed the garden, is still involved on a consultative basis.
She has been happy with the overwhelming response from visitors.
“My goal was that people would feel touched (by our biodiversity), and proud of our heritage.
“I didn’t want this to be another place with an overload of signage and information. My aim was to ensure that people would feel connected with nature and be awed by its beauty and diversity. To me this is the most important because, if our eyes are open to the beauty and value of nature and our environment, we will care about it, and look after it.”
Honig said there had been a few maintenance issues such as irrigation failure which resulted in major plant losses and signage looking tacky.
“But the city is committed to keeping it looking good and has ordered new signage, and we did a massive replant a month ago.”
The park, including the neighbouring fields and a golf course, are fed from the artesian wells in Oranjezicht.
The water wheel works on a balance system, Mathieson explains.
“As the golf course draws water, the water wheel kicks in and water feeds down a spillway into the ponds below.”
The park is free but regulated and no alcohol is allowed – even though people do try to sneak it in.
There is also occasional vandalism and graffiti but Mathieson said security staff were all trained in conflict management.
“We try to work with people and do have a high level of compliance. The majority of visitors just want to enjoy themselves.”
The staff who work in the garden are incredibly friendly and happy to answer any questions.
Two weddings have been held in the park and there are also karate and yoga classes on occasion.
Mathieson, who is a horticulturist, said the goal was to keep the park clean, secure and technically well run.
And although the majority of comments on forums such as TripAdvisor are positive, criticism is taken seriously.
“The residents and ratepayers also keep us on our toes.”
Helen Bamford, Cape Argus