An underutilised space in Tafelsig has been upgraded by Our Future Cities in collaboration with the community and stakeholders. The upgrade includes modular concrete benches placed around a recently planted milkwood tree.
Walls surrounding the park were also painted to bring new life to the space. Local builders and other community volunteers assisted in the implementation of this intervention on October 24.
The park upgrade stems from a two-year collaboration between the community under the banner of the Tafelsig Public Space Initiative. Previous projects have included a community kitchen, murals, and other art projects collaborating with Mak1One.
Project partners include Wesley Nash, the design lead, Mikal Bell, a development practitioner who lives in Tafelsig, and the South African Cities Network (SACN) which provided an Integrated Urban Development Framework (IUDF) seed grant.
Rashiq Fataar, Director of Our Future Cities had this to say: “Communities should be at the centre of improvements to their public spaces and the broader public realm. Over two years, we have worked closely with residents we hope this small intervention starts to put Tafelsig on the map as a community of proud people who are passionate about safe, dignified spaces for their children and families. Our work here has only just begun”
Mikal Bell, the community lead and resident, said: “Community work makes communities work.”
Wesley Nash, the project design lead said: “As the design is modular, easy to construct, and cost-effective, the aim is for this project to become an easy-to-replicate toolkit for others looking to do the same in their community.
For more information on this project or toolkit, please contact Our Future Cities at [email protected]
Picture: Unsplash