Making the Wilds a safe place
Originally published on 25 May 2024
The Wilds in Johannesburg is a park that used to be a scary place to visit. There were problems with stealing and people getting attacked. But now it has become a lively community park because of one person's hard work.
What was the problem?
The Wilds was known for being unsafe. Local people stayed away because they were scared of crime and poor upkeep. The park was overgrown, with broken benches, crumbling walls, and paths that were not looked after. Even the park workers were scared to go deep into the park.
How did they solve it?
James Delaney, an artist who lived nearby, decided to take back The Wilds. At first, he was unsure, but he started walking in the park with his dog, Pablo, and soon saw what it could become. In 2016, Delaney started fixing the park. He asked friends for help and raised money online, giving his art as rewards.
To bring people to the park, Delaney put 67 colourful metal owl sculptures all over, even though some thought they would be stolen. The owls were very popular, especially with children, and people shared pictures of them on social media. Delaney kept adding more sculptures and bright benches to make the park friendly.
Because of Delaney’s action, the Wilds got 10,000 visitors each month. It was a safe and calm place in a city with many problems. Delaney's work inspired more people to improve Johannesburg and other places.
Acknowledgements:
Original article written by: Christina Lamb
Photograph supplied by: jozirediscovered
Get your community involved
Is there a community-driven group or caring business in your area? A dedicated group of committed people can effectively solve local problems.
Think about starting or joining community groups like a street WhatsApp group, residents' association, or community policing forum (CPF) to get help and to stay informed and involved in local issues.
Know your rights – how local government works
It’s important to understand how your local government works so that you can work with them to support what they are doing while your community continues to keep them accountable and deliver services on time. Remember you have a constitutional right to many of the services provided by local government, as well as to accountability and transparency, wherever you live and regardless of how much you earn. It is also where money collected from taxes and rates goes.
Tshwane
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