Note Editors: Please find attached soundbites in English and Afrikaans by Retief Odendaal MPL. Download pictures from an oversight inspection at St George’s Park here, here, here and here.
St George’s Park in Gqeberha can be revitalised to become a “Central Park for Nelson Mandela Bay” and transformed into a landmark green space that serves as a recreational facility, cultural hub, tourist attraction, and gathering place for the whole city.
The park should be a recreational oasis for the people of Nelson Mandela Bay. But rather than attracting residents and tourists to grow the economy and create jobs it has become dangerous, is underused, with many of its amenities allowed to go to rack and ruin.
Today, I conducted an oversight inspection at the park and unveiled the DA’s plan to transform St George’s Park.
A DA government will spend R100 million on revitalising the park. This will not be a mere infrastructure upgrade. It will be an investment in tourism and the economy, as well as into the quality of life of our residents.
Securing the park is going to be a big focus. We will install proper lighting, CCTV cameras, emergency call points, better fencing, clearer entrances, and dedicated security personnel. There will also be a St George’s Park Ranger Service. These rangers will help visitors, do regular safety patrols, and lend a hand with the day-to-day running of the park.
Making it a clean, pleasant green space where people can relax and children can play is high on the list. The gardens will be upgraded, we will put in a memorial garden, and we will develop proper play areas.
The DA will get the park back as a proper sporting destination. The pathways will be fixed so walkers, runners and cyclists can use them safely. We will upgrade the tennis courts, the Park Drive Bowling Club and the Union Cricket Field. The crumbling St George’s Park swimming pool will be upgraded so that families can use it again and it once again becomes a haven for sport and fun.
Arts, culture, and heritage will play an important role. We will bring Art in the Park back, working with the Nelson Mandela Bay Art Museum. There will also be space for regular market days. The Mannville Open Air Theatre will be upgraded so that plays and concerts can return, and sit-down open-air movie screenings are planned as another attraction. A lot of work has already gone into getting the Pearson Conservatory up and running. A DA government will restore it to its former glory.
At the Local Government Elections on 4 November residents can unite behind the DA so that we can get St George’s Park and Nelson Mandela Bay’s working again for all.