Welcome!
This is the initial announcement of the Queens Park Blogspot.
This blog is to assist people who make use of Queens Park in Woodstock, Cape Town.
Please be patient! This blog is still under construction...
Saturday 4 October 2014
Tuesday 30 September 2014
QPWEB A Cautionary Tale
During school hours, for obvious reasons children are supposed to be in their classrooms. Here is a true story about two young people who weren't, and what happened to them. Some details have been left deliberately vague, though.
A young boyfriend and girlfirend we spotted on the Q P Soccer Field area during school hours. As they were in uniform, that particular institution in the area was telephoned and asked to send someone to come and collect them. Unfortunately, there were no available teachers (it's the Mock Matric Exam time of the year). So the SAP were called to do the job. They must have been busy because they only arrived much later, after the kids had left.
For the next couple of weeks, these two were spotted frequently on the Soccer Field during school hours. Similar phone calls to the various authorities yielded no results. The last straw was when they two were spotted on the field, making love in the open.
As fortune would have it, a local Community Improvement District official happened to drive up to enjoy a well-earned lunch break at the Soccer Field. He was appraised of the situation and collected the two kids (they were both 15 years of age) and delivered them to the police. The parents were duly informed.
One can only hope that the parents, on collecting their kids, delivered lectures on the vital need to be at school at this stage of their education, the appropriate kinds of relationship for their age, as well as the potential hazards of STD's!
They've not been seen since, and it's hoped that they are both back at school.
The point of this story is that, once again, the community intervened and, who knows, maybe even saved those kids lives in the long run.
A young boyfriend and girlfirend we spotted on the Q P Soccer Field area during school hours. As they were in uniform, that particular institution in the area was telephoned and asked to send someone to come and collect them. Unfortunately, there were no available teachers (it's the Mock Matric Exam time of the year). So the SAP were called to do the job. They must have been busy because they only arrived much later, after the kids had left.
For the next couple of weeks, these two were spotted frequently on the Soccer Field during school hours. Similar phone calls to the various authorities yielded no results. The last straw was when they two were spotted on the field, making love in the open.
As fortune would have it, a local Community Improvement District official happened to drive up to enjoy a well-earned lunch break at the Soccer Field. He was appraised of the situation and collected the two kids (they were both 15 years of age) and delivered them to the police. The parents were duly informed.
One can only hope that the parents, on collecting their kids, delivered lectures on the vital need to be at school at this stage of their education, the appropriate kinds of relationship for their age, as well as the potential hazards of STD's!
They've not been seen since, and it's hoped that they are both back at school.
The point of this story is that, once again, the community intervened and, who knows, maybe even saved those kids lives in the long run.
Thursday 8 January 2004
QPWEB Issues - Litter
Visitors to Queens Park remark on how clean and litter-free Queens Park is in comparison to some other parks in Cape Town.
This doesn't happen automatically. Diligent local residents collect the litter in the Play Park and Dog Park and dump it in the municipal refuse bins provided. Please play your part, too!
The Soccer Club is to be commended for cleaning up the Soccer Field after major events and matches, as they do.
In general, where litter is kept to a minimum in the park, people feel less inclined to drop their own litter.
Glass bottles are definitely not to be left lying around. They inevitably get broken and the glass is a hazard to children, dogs and sports activities.
Kid's parties in the Play Park are popular occasions. If you arrange such a party, your tidying-up afterwards will be greatly appreciated by other users.
For other Queens Park issues, click here.
This doesn't happen automatically. Diligent local residents collect the litter in the Play Park and Dog Park and dump it in the municipal refuse bins provided. Please play your part, too!
The Soccer Club is to be commended for cleaning up the Soccer Field after major events and matches, as they do.
In general, where litter is kept to a minimum in the park, people feel less inclined to drop their own litter.
Glass bottles are definitely not to be left lying around. They inevitably get broken and the glass is a hazard to children, dogs and sports activities.
Kid's parties in the Play Park are popular occasions. If you arrange such a party, your tidying-up afterwards will be greatly appreciated by other users.
For other Queens Park issues, click here.
Wednesday 7 January 2004
QPWEB Issues - Grafitti
Some grafitti is an expressive art form, and when done well it can even be beautiful. Other grafitti is ugly and offensive. Some of it even marks gang territory. Covering every available flat surface with tags and offensive slogans is undesireable in a public park. Most of the users prefer a neutral space to rest their eyes...
Several years ago the old Swimming Pool area became a target, especially as the buildings became derelict. The public toilets in the Play Park weren't spared either. This ugly environment reflected the undesireable attitudes of some people hanging around there at the time.
Fortunately, with the general upgrade of the Play Park, the toilets and the Dog Park, this is now less of a problem, and the residents are determined to keep it that way, with the kind asssistance of City Council. Enclosing these areas with palisade fences has helped to keep things unspoiled.
For more on Queens Park Issues, click here.
Several years ago the old Swimming Pool area became a target, especially as the buildings became derelict. The public toilets in the Play Park weren't spared either. This ugly environment reflected the undesireable attitudes of some people hanging around there at the time.
Fortunately, with the general upgrade of the Play Park, the toilets and the Dog Park, this is now less of a problem, and the residents are determined to keep it that way, with the kind asssistance of City Council. Enclosing these areas with palisade fences has helped to keep things unspoiled.
For more on Queens Park Issues, click here.
Tuesday 6 January 2004
QPWEB Issues - Truancy
Queens Park caters for a huge number of kids of school-going age - they are its largest visiting group, in fact.
However, if they are in Queens Park during school hours (and not part of a formally organised School event, such as a Sports Day) they are probably playing hookey!
While probably every one of us bunked off school a few times when we were at school, this is not a good idea to encourage. Children need every hour of education provided by their school, especially at High School level.
Also, away from school in an unsupervised area, these children are vunerable to drug dealers and muggers. There are at least two documented cases of children who were mugged (in broad daylight) for their cellphones and wallets in Queens Park.
The local residents do report kids in the park who should be in school, to their relevant institution. The schools are very grateful for such assistance. Where they can spare the personnel, a staff member will be sent to collect the kids to take them back to the school. If that isn't possible, the SAP should be contacted, though our police often have far more important issues to deal with (such as violent crime). Another option is to contact the relevant Community Improvement District vehicle, who have proven very helpful in the past.
The more often truants are reported, the less likely they will want to use the Park as their preferred venue.
The various high schools within walking distance of Queens Park are:
For a cautionary tale about truancy at Queens Park, click here.
For more on Queens Park Issues, click here.
However, if they are in Queens Park during school hours (and not part of a formally organised School event, such as a Sports Day) they are probably playing hookey!
While probably every one of us bunked off school a few times when we were at school, this is not a good idea to encourage. Children need every hour of education provided by their school, especially at High School level.
Also, away from school in an unsupervised area, these children are vunerable to drug dealers and muggers. There are at least two documented cases of children who were mugged (in broad daylight) for their cellphones and wallets in Queens Park.
The local residents do report kids in the park who should be in school, to their relevant institution. The schools are very grateful for such assistance. Where they can spare the personnel, a staff member will be sent to collect the kids to take them back to the school. If that isn't possible, the SAP should be contacted, though our police often have far more important issues to deal with (such as violent crime). Another option is to contact the relevant Community Improvement District vehicle, who have proven very helpful in the past.
The more often truants are reported, the less likely they will want to use the Park as their preferred venue.
The various high schools within walking distance of Queens Park are:
- Queens Park High School
- Salt River High School
- Zonnebloem Nest School
For a cautionary tale about truancy at Queens Park, click here.
For more on Queens Park Issues, click here.
QPWEB Issues - Bad Behaviour
Queens Park is for everyone in the local community to enjoy. The rich mix of cultures and backgrounds of its visitors represents a microcosm of the greater South African society.
When bad behaviour occurs in the park, it spoils the environment for all users (including the perpertrators!). However, a delicate balance must be maintained. For example, a group of adolescents has as much right to be there as, say, a yuppie couple and their children. But all have the right to feel safe in one of the few public open spaces in the area.
When the critical mass of respectability has been achieved, as has now happened in Queens Park since its redemption from the bad old days, the bad elements tend to be subdued.
Bad behaviour needs to be dealt with quickly. For example, early in 2014 a gang fight happened in the Dog Park. Prompt cell-phone calls from respectable park users summoned the SAP, who arrived in time to intercept the perpertrators as they moved westwards out the Dog Park along Palmerston Road.
Important here is that the community didn't confront the gang, but they were quietly assertive in reclaiming ownership of their park from others whose bad behaviour has no place there.
For more on Queens Park Issues, click here.
For Security matters, click here.
When bad behaviour occurs in the park, it spoils the environment for all users (including the perpertrators!). However, a delicate balance must be maintained. For example, a group of adolescents has as much right to be there as, say, a yuppie couple and their children. But all have the right to feel safe in one of the few public open spaces in the area.
When the critical mass of respectability has been achieved, as has now happened in Queens Park since its redemption from the bad old days, the bad elements tend to be subdued.
Bad behaviour needs to be dealt with quickly. For example, early in 2014 a gang fight happened in the Dog Park. Prompt cell-phone calls from respectable park users summoned the SAP, who arrived in time to intercept the perpertrators as they moved westwards out the Dog Park along Palmerston Road.
Important here is that the community didn't confront the gang, but they were quietly assertive in reclaiming ownership of their park from others whose bad behaviour has no place there.
For more on Queens Park Issues, click here.
For Security matters, click here.
Monday 5 January 2004
QPWEB Issues - Vandalism
The park and sports facilities provided by City Council are funded by the rates and taxes paid by Cape Town's ratepayers and are there to be enjoyed by the local community.
Sadly, anti-social elements work to degrade these facilities, from time to time.
Sometimes is it clearly theft of metal to be sold as scrap:
Another issue is adults who sit on the swings in the Play Park. These tyre bucket-seats. designed to carry the weight of 14-year-olds or lighter, tear and eventually break when heavy people sit in them!
For other Queens Park issues, click here.
For Security issues, click here.
Sadly, anti-social elements work to degrade these facilities, from time to time.
Sometimes is it clearly theft of metal to be sold as scrap:
- When the old Victorian-style palisade fence was being replaced, sections of that old fencing were stolen by vagrants, sometimes in broad daylight!;
- The beautiful brass slipway in the Play Park's slide was stolen one evening. (It has now been replaced, but with something less classy);
- The copper pipes in the public toilet vanished years ago. (Fortunately they have been replaced with less-desireable Polycarp pipes);
- The transformers in the Soccer Club's floodlights were also stolen for scrap metal. These have been replaced with sturdy steel plates to prevent that happening again;
- The Soccer Club's steel goal posts were stolen least year! (That must surely win the prize for the largest single metal theft ever in Queens Park);
- The padlocks for the Play Park and Dog Park have been vandalised from time to time.
- The public toilets suffered this fate a couple of years ago. Now they are securely locked at night;
- The old Swimming Pool's buildings and pool were progressively vandalised over the years, even though two security guards were on the premises, 24/7.
Another issue is adults who sit on the swings in the Play Park. These tyre bucket-seats. designed to carry the weight of 14-year-olds or lighter, tear and eventually break when heavy people sit in them!
For other Queens Park issues, click here.
For Security issues, click here.
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