- The Mitchells Plain community has transformed Trafalgar Park, with the backing of the City of Cape Town
- Local businessman estimates about R20 000 to R30 000 was poured into the project by his own account.
- Others have donated a jungle gym
Sitting on colourful benches of a transformed Trafalgar Park in total tranquillity, one sees bees, butterflies and hummingbirds zoom by upon their return to the plentiful garden beds planted with love by its surrounding community.
“Little over a year-and-a-half ago, this park was nothing but a glorified sand pit, eventually used as a soccer pitch,” 50-year-old Fazly Hendricks reminisced with TygerBurger.
This Mitchells Plain businessman, with the backing of Ward 79 councillor Danny Christians, is at the forefront of this beautification project motivated to bring about positive, uplifting efforts to restore dignity to its public assets. And in so doing, restoring the dignity of its community.
“As a Portland resident, I took ownership of a neglected open dysfunctional space in my area with the main aim of uplifting and enhancing our environment that was deteriorating and declining fast. This was also due to anti-social behaviour that began to affect the quality of our lives,” he shared.
“Running my general maintenance business, there are times when work is quiet. So, I decided to rope in my men to keep busy in helping to restore the park. They did so voluntarily, without expecting wages for their labour and I invited their creative freedom without pushing a bunch of orders.”
Lack of funding
And so, this open space was quickly converted into a thriving park with the help of the community and zero funds collected from anyone.
However, Fazly estimates that about R20 000 to R30 000 was poured into the project by his own account.
Trafalgar Park is still in the early stages of development, he added.
“It is simple, colourful and not over designed as it offers an area for multi-purpose use, a playground with equipment and resources donated. The park benches were built from recycled material and an impressive display of plants collected from dumping sites, the community and largely from my own garden were nestled into the soil.”
A jungle gym was gifted by Megan and Dasch Barber, Fazly’s brother Waleed donated the swing set, cobble stones were given by a neighbour Gino, while Pikkie and Yolandie from Pikkie Pet Shop and Doggy Parlour based in Ottery donated plants. The selection of plants, Fazly explained, also hold medicinal value to be picked by anyone in need.
On the vibracrete walls surrounding the park, a group of 12 graffiti artists, some from Ocean View and others from as far as KwaZulu-Natal, were invited to spray paint their own vibrant designs for free.
Uniting the community
This park now serves as an active ingredient knitting the social fabric of Portland into a quilt of family-oriented values, providing games like dominos for kids to bide their time in a healthy recreational way.
“We even hide a set of dominos in a post box for the kids to collect and return once they’ve finished a round,” Fazly pointed out.
He hopes the park serves as inspiration to local and troubled youth so vulnerable to gang-related activities.
To safeguard this renewed gathering spot, the chair of the block’s neighbourhood watch, Mark Griebelaar, ensures the area is patrolled by night, while Fazly’s close circle of locals bring about understanding that this space is sacred and off-limits for lawlessness.
“Anyone best avoid causing any trouble or posing a threat to young ones playing here, or any material asset purposed for recreation. I ensure that the park is not misused, solve and provide solutions to problems while educating and sharing knowledge about gardening and agriculture.
A special place
As time goes on, Fazly wishes to install a beautiful arch for the park to be purposed for matric ball photoshoots, and even matrimonial occasions.
“This is not a product of the City of Cape Town, but a testimony of Mitchells Plain’s very own people. We take so much pride in this, as it teaches us not to wait on anyone else to improve our circumstances,” she told TygerBurger.
For Fazly’s wife of 29 years, Lameez, this park instils respect: “Many children raised here don’t grow up in ideal circumstances with parents present in every facet of their personal development. We believe this space will invite them to participate in activities promoted by caring community leaders.”
