Cape Town’s parks and green spaces are getting a maintenance makeover thanks to three shiny new cherry pickers that have just joined the City’s fleet.The Recreation and Parks Department says the new vehicles will revolutionise how they maintain trees on pavements, in parks and other public spaces across the metro.
Major upgrade
The cherry pickers are just the beginning of a major equipment upgrade for the department. Right now, the City operates more than 550 vehicles for parks maintenance – everything from small delivery trucks to tractors, mowing machines and grab trucks. But many are getting long in the tooth, which is where the big bucks come in. Over the next three years, the City is splashing nearly R70 million on new and replacement vehicles for the parks department. The money will go towards swapping out ageing tipper trucks for more specialised vehicles designed to work smarter and save money in the long run.
Maintain trees
“These cherry pickers will allow our teams to safely and efficiently maintain trees across the city, which are difficult to reach using conventional methods,” explained Francine Higham.
The new equipment isn’t just about safety – it’s about speed too. Higham says the upgraded fleet will mean quicker turnaround times when residents report maintenance issues. “By modernising our equipment, we are improving turnaround times and ensuring that residents can enjoy safe, well-kept public spaces,” she said.
