PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT OF THE FIELD AND STUDY PARK
Since the last Update on 28 February 2023 and earlier notice on 4 January 2023 this Proposal has had major changes.
Listed below are those changes which dramatically affect our much-loved Park which is in a Conservation Area.
- The directors of Urban Park Group now intend to develop a large Padel complex on the first field – and which, we are told, will be open daily until 22h00.
- Their plans now include building 8 Padel courts, 3 on each side of the complex with two in the spacious centre deck with grandstands for spectators. League matches and tournaments for Padel players are expected to be held there.
- There will also be a shop, refreshment area and change/cloak rooms within the Padel complex.
- On either side of the Padel complex and courts is a parking area for 44 cars – 88 in total. There will be new access roads to these parking bays and a further access road is planned to go down to a major parking area below the Padel complex.
- The lower parking will be there for expected patrons at a new Restaurant to be built next to the Braamfontein Spruit – not casual. This area currently has numerous trees.
- There will be a refreshment area with a deli near the play area for casual park visitors.
- Lately there has been mention of further “entities” within the park with the emphasis on profitability.
- A Hydroponic eco-farm is also planned on the field in front of the River Café building.
YOUR SUPPORT IS NEEDED TO PRESERVE OUR UNIQUE, HISTORICAL PARK.
PLEASE VIST THE SAVE OUR PARK STAND AT THE FIELD MARKET ON SATURDAY, 11 MARCH. YOU CAN JOIN CONCERNED RESIDENTS AND PARK LOVERS IN SIGNING A PETITION OPPOSING THE INAPPROPRIATE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR MUCH-LOVED PARK.
Padel Court first field
Padel Courts behind Discovery Head Office, in Sandton.
This is what we have now
The Park be maintained by City Parks and no developments to be approved that affect the current arrangements.
Any Development should be in collaboration with existing Recreation center and cafe place. We don’t need to take extra space from the Park.
Also squatter camp across the river bank is becoming major problem as well as source of air pollution.
Any upgrades should take both factors into account.
Lastly , Urban park proposal is factually not correct as they have calculated total area of the park incorrectly.
It is a beautiful park, and we enjoy the time down there. The biggest concern is the informal settlement on the other side of the river which makes it unsafe to use the park.
I disagree that this padel sport should be allowed to stay open until 10pm. This will devalue the properties around the park, maybe it will help with security, who knows.
In order for this to work, there needs to be reasonable development, still creating green space and I don’t mean building and leaving a small strip of land.
I think it could work, but the residents need to have a say.
Sanity is a rarety. Parks like this help to ensure sanity. We need the Park.