BuaNews (Tshwane)
Bathandwa Mbola
11 May 2008
Diepkloof — Johannesburg City Parks has built a multi-functional, two hectare park in Diepkloof in Soweto in less than 24 hours.
Officially unveiled on Friday evening by Johannesburg Mayor Amos Mosondo, the park boasts water features, a soccer field, playgrounds, a multi-purpose court, splash pool, landscaped lawns, park furniture, concrete walkways and an amphitheatre area with a big screen.
It forms part of the City of Joburg's commitment to 'green' Soweto and redefine open spaces in the area.
Over 200 people are expected to be visiting the park at given time on this R4.6 million project that would normally take at least four months to complete.
City Parks said the XtremePark was inspired by the American television series Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.
City Parks aimed to address the outdoor recreation disparities in South Africa while mobilising community ownership of "green" spaces.
"This will in turn advocate healthier lifestyles and inspire the Johannesburg City Park's workforce to strive towards service excellence, showcasing the effective use of public resources, restoring the integrity of Joburg's public open spaces, and acting as a catalyst to ready communities towards the 2010 FIFA World Cup," said City Parks.
The Diepkloof Xtreme Park is situated on what used to be a derelict piece of land that was overrun with illegal dumping and litter.
City Parks has engaged with the community in the roll out of the park with contractors being hired from the area.
The park is poised to become the leading outdoor, recreation hub in the southern quadrant of Johannesburg- complementing the environmental and socio-economic revival of Soweto.
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