Elaine Jack, city improvement district manager of the Sandton Central Management District (SCMD), says: “Joining leading cities across the globe, Sandton Central recognises the importance that green lungs play in well-designed urban fabric that provides a full experience for the people who use it. These precious outdoor spaces provide people with an opportunity to take a break from the hustle and bustle of city life, and they also provide opportunities for groups of people to get together and enjoy themselves without feeling the restrictions of four walls around them.”
Innesfree Park, conveniently located on Katherine Street in Sandown, offers residents and visitors respite from the rigours of city life. Here you’ll find two tranquil dams and plenty of open space in which to have picnics or just take a lunch break.
“Due to its size, Innesfree Park is known to host large-scale events like music concerts, motor shows, arts and culture exhibitions and a number of other outdoor shows. It is also ideal for smaller private parties and picnics,” says Jack.
Another extraordinary lush green hideaway situated in the heart of the Sandton Central business district, Mushroom Farm Park, renamed Hyundai Sky Park, boasts a fully equipped playground for the kids, a duck pond, amphitheatre, hilly landscaped lawns and an outdoor gym. Popular with families for weekend picnics, the giant Hyundai branded hot air balloon, which rises 120m above the park, offers visitors an incredible view of Sandton, weather permitting.
Dog walkers are also welcome to this park provided that their pooches are on a leash, and the neatly paved walkways are perfect for strollers or joggers. There are also tables, benches and clean public toilets available.
A small, intimate park located in the heart of the financial district, Sandton Central Park offers a blank canvas, perfect for planning niche events. The park occasionally hosts live music day festivals as well as other events and offers an amphitheatre, sculptured garden beds, indigenous tress, solar powered lights and benches to sit on.
Jack says: “Sandton Central’s parks build a healthier community by providing green spaces for people to socialise and enjoy recreational activities and events. These spaces have been designed to be enjoyed and shared by the community, and we encourage people to make good use of them.”
The mandate of Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) is to create safe recreational spaces for residents of the greater Johannesburg. JCPZ has been fortunate in having the opportunity to form mutually beneficial relationships with residential associations as well as business communities to protect these open spaces. Louise Gordon,GM new business development, says numerous opportunities exist to create safe cycling, trail running and walking lanes in parks as well as events that will encourage outdoor lifestyles.
