NEAC PARK, a historic park in Soweto, which for years epitomised the community's struggle for a clean environment, is to be restored to its immaculate beauty, thanks to a R7,5-million contribution from the City of Johannesburg for the upgrade of the park.

The park, which serves as a central recreation spot and meeting place for the communities of Dobsonville, Meadowlands and Mofolo, deteriorated badly following years of neglect.

Today, the lawn in the park is overgrown, the lake is silted up and full of reeds, the toilets are not working, the playing facilities are rusted and some have been vandalised. But the city of Johannesburg has intervened to give the park a much-needed facelift. 

A swing that is to be repaired

The park is the brainchild of Japhta Lekgetho, affectionately known as Mr Clean, who pioneered the National Environmental Awareness Campaign (Neac) in the township. He galvanised the community in a massive clean-up campaign in the aftermath of the 1976 Soweto student revolt. The park became the base for the campaign and a symbol of the community's endeavours. 

The youthful and energetic Lekgetho had resigned from his position as a teacher at Morris Isaacson High school, the flashpoint of the revolt and established Neac as an NGO dedicated to spreading environmental awareness and sprucing up the township.

But Neac was more than just an environmental NGO. It became a catalyst for social regeneration, establishing a network of sporting clubs to occupy the youth and uplift communities.

"Fixing the park will help revive community spirit," says Jabulani Nkutha, a ward councillor of the area. According to Lekgetho, an average of 1 000 people, mainly school kids, visit the park daily.

Locals have fond memories of days spent at the park. For some, the park is intimately linked to their youth. 

Locals trying to relax and enjoy the great outdoors

Meshack Matyila's memory of the park is one of youthful bliss, of flying butterflies and chirping birds, of catching fish and charming ladies. "We used to catch fish and crabs in the lake over there," he remembers. "Today", he continues, staring at the park, crestfallen, "we can't even see the water anymore." For Matyila, the decay is both physical and social. "Look at the playground - everything is falling apart. These small boys come to the park to smoke dagga and mug people here." 

Betty Hlatshwayo also remembers pleasant days spent at the park. "This lawn used to be trimmed. The park was clean and well kept. And ja - we had a netball team, the Neac club." She recounts going on outings with the team. "You don't know. Don't judge me by this phuza-face (sagging face caused by years of drinking and bingeing). I was fit then. I was a regular player for the Neac netball team." But things have changed. "Now the park is like a place for hobos, some of them sleep here."

These memories may be romanticised, but they nonetheless offer a momentary escape from the ghastly present, the present of dreams unfulfilled, of economic hardships and of a decaying park. Monica Miya, another local, says the park should be fenced in and security provided. "In the end, the responsibility to maintain the park will be ours as the community."

Lekgetho attributes the deterioration of the park to lack of funding for its upkeep. "As an NGO, we depended on funding from the private sector for our campaigns. Following the 1994 elections, funding dried up, with companies telling us that we now had a government which should discharge its responsibilities." 

Children play in the park

But the City has now intervened to give the park a facelift. The development will entail the upgrading of park's infrastructure. This will come in the form of security fencing, paved pedestrian walkways, lighting, a bridge, toilets, benches, bollards, fountains, trees and a nursery. Recreation facilities to be set up include braai and seating areas, play stations for chess and morabaraba, netball, basketball, and volleyball courts and a soccer field. The lawn will be mowed and a new parking area constructed. 

Neac Park is an important source of the Klip River system. The eastern limb of the Klip River emanates from the park and flows southward, into other areas of Soweto, until it reaches the Vaal River further in the South.

"The upgrade will thus include the rehabilitation of the wetland and the creation of small dams to allow filtration of the watere to be purified before entering the Klip River system," says Flora Mokgohloa, director of environmental planning and management in the city.

The local community has been involved from the conception of the development. "We have a parks committee comprising representatives of neighbouring communities and Neac to oversee the development," says Nkutha.

Mokgohloa says the project will also benefit local contractors and provide jobs for locals.

While the development will help revive community spirit by providing locals with an outlet for recreation and children with playing facilities, grown-ups will also be able to relive their childhood memories.

The local community waits with anticipation for the project to take off. According to Mokgohloa, the project is due for completion at the end of June.

For adults in the area, the passage of time may have permanently robbed them of their youth. But the park promises to recover its sparkle, if not for them, then for their kids.