AISHA S•1 month ago I would like to propose that the large vacant land situated south of Nyala Road in Lotus River, extending towards Fisherman’s Walk, and bordered or accessed by the surrounding road network including Nyala Road, Seventh Avenue, Avocet Road, Bittern Link and Fisherman’s Walk, be investigated for development as a secure, enclosed public green park and community precinct.
The proposed park should serve residents living along these roads and throughout Lotus River, Grassy Park and neighbouring communities.
Current concern
At present, the vacant field is underutilised and has become a source of concern for nearby residents. The open and unmanaged nature of the land can attract:
-Informal occupation and squatting.
-Criminal activity and suspicious movement.
-Illegal dumping.
-Vandalism.
-Fires and other unsafe activity.
-General deterioration of the surrounding environment.
This negatively affects residents’ sense of safety, the appearance of the neighbourhood and confidence in the surrounding area.
Developing the land into a secure, enclosed and actively managed park would help address these problems by introducing controlled access, lighting, surveillance, regular maintenance and consistent lawful activity throughout the day.
Vision
The vision is to transform the currently underutilised land into a high-quality, environmentally responsible and carefully managed public park that becomes a landmark destination for the Cape Flats.
Proposed features
-Attractive perimeter fencing around the entire park.
-Controlled pedestrian and vehicle entrances.
-Security personnel and 24-hour CCTV surveillance.
-Clearly defined opening and closing times.
-Landscaped walking and jogging trails.
-Safe cycling paths.
-Indigenous gardens, lawns and mature shade trees.
-A children’s adventure playground.
-Outdoor gym and fitness facilities.
-Picnic lawns and designated family recreation areas.
-Small cafés with indoor and outdoor seating.
-Space for weekend food, farmers’ and artisan markets.
-Clean public toilets and baby-changing facilities.
-A dog-friendly area, where appropriate.
-An event lawn for fitness classes, cultural programmes and community events.
-Rehabilitation and protection of the canal, watercourse and any environmentally sensitive portions of the site.
-Proper parking and traffic-management measures so that surrounding streets are not obstructed.
Access and surrounding roads
The design should carefully consider pedestrian, vehicle and emergency access from the roads surrounding the property, including:
-Nyala Road
-Seventh Avenue
-Avocet Road
-Bittern Link
-Fisherman’s Walk
The City should also investigate safe pedestrian crossings, improved pavements, lighting and traffic-calming measures around the park so that residents can reach it safely without creating excessive congestion for surrounding homeowners.
Why the park should be enclosed
An enclosed park with controlled operating hours would:
-Provide a safer environment for children, families and elderly residents.
-Deter criminal activity and unlawful occupation.
-Reduce illegal dumping, vandalism and damage to facilities.
-Protect the landscaping and environmental areas.
-Make proper security and access control possible.
-Prevent the land from remaining an unmanaged and unsafe open space.
-Encourage positive, lawful use of the site.
-Support cafés, markets and organised activities.
-Improve the appearance and desirability of Nyala Road and surrounding streets.
Community and economic benefits
The project could:
-Replace an unsafe and underused field with a well-managed public asset.
-Improve safety and passive surveillance in the surrounding area.
-Provide safe recreation in an area that needs quality public facilities.
-Improve residents’ physical and mental wellbeing.
-Create jobs in security, maintenance, landscaping and hospitality.
-Support local entrepreneurs through café concessions and market stalls.
-Encourage investment and renovation in nearby properties.
-Improve the overall image of Lotus River.
-Increase community pride and social cohesion.
-Protect valuable urban green space.
-Help strengthen surrounding property values over time.
The park should remain free or affordable for pedestrians, with maintenance and security partly funded through café leases, event bookings, market-stall rentals, sponsorships and controlled parking fees.
I request that the City investigate the land’s ownership, zoning, environmental condition and suitability for the establishment of an Enclosed Lotus River Green Park and Community Precinct, and that residents from Nyala Road, Seventh Avenue, Avocet Road, Bittern Link, Fisherman’s Walk and the broader Lotus River community be included in future consultation.
