Mapetla Regional Park, Soweto

Project type: Regional Park

Client: Johannesburg City Parks

Landscape value: R 16,000,000

Project description: The park has been developed in a series of phases. Phase 1 was designed as a neighbourhood park with regional connects. The design stemmed from evident ‘desire-line’ pathways which ran across the site, which were paved and formalised to form the framework around which the rest of the park was developed. The need for amenities came as a direct request for members of the community using the park. A multi-purpose court, additional play equipment and goal posts where seen as essentials to turn this portion of the park into a much needed activity zone. Boulders were collected from the area and placed carefully to become ‘seating features’ in the landscape. Picnic spots with braai and seating walls were placed along the river edge, along with trees provide welcome shade to those recreating. Phase 2 was developed on the opposite side of the river. The need of more play equipment and a netball court was a direct request from the community. Once again desire lines within the space dictated where pathways were formalised. The two parks form a succinct whole, even though being dived by a river. As the river bridge is a busy cross-over point to get from Protea South to Mapetla, both parks are always a hive of activity. This together with a variety of access points and the fact that the park is visually very accessible makes the parks a safe place for children to play. Phase 3 is being built across the road from the first two phases and will ultimately feature an Environmental Centre and recreation dam. To date play areas, multi-purpose courts, two pedestrian bridges and an amphitheatre and ‘play’ water feature have already been completed.