Ranked the No 1 Picnic Spot in Gauteng (Getaway Magazine)
6 tranquil picnic spots in Gauteng
Picnics are a must in the warmer months of the year. The sun shining brightly, birds chirping cheerfully and your favourite food and drinks: what could be better on a hot summer afternoon?
Gauteng residents are fortunate to have a multitude of grassy areas in the province just waiting to be explored. Some of these are well-known and others less so. You might have hiked, cycled or walked your dog in these parks but have you ever just whiled away the hours beneath the shady trees?
Pack a basket with delightful eats and treats, invite your loved ones or simply enjoy some alone time. Here are some beautiful picnic spots to try.
1. James and Ethel Gray Park
This park was named after former Johannesburg mayor in 1946, James Gray and his wife Ethel.
According to the Rosebank Killarney Gazette, the couple even hosted the royal family when they visited South Africa in 1947. Here, you can kick back and spread out on the rolling hills, take in the stunning city views from a lookout point or enjoy one of the many walkways.
In the Media
James and Ethel Gray Park ablution facilities to be upgraded
Foundation chairman urges community to keep James and Ethel Gray Park clean
James and Ethel Gray Park ablution facilities to be upgraded
JOHANNESBURG, (The Citizen) – A generous donation by a dedicated park user will see a significant upgrade to the James and Ethel Gray Park ablution facility. The James and Ethel Gray Park Foundation chairman Sunil Geness said the donor, who is in regular engagement with the JEGPF has recognised the importance of providing clean, comfortable, and accessible amenities within the park in Melrose. He said, “Their substantial contribution has allowed us to plan for an exciting renovation project that will revolutionise the park’s ablution facility, ensuring it aligns with the needs and expectations of our community and confirms to world-class standards.”
The upcoming enhancements to the park’s ablution facility include:
1. Expanded capacity: The upgraded facility will feature an increased number of stalls, urinals, and sinks, catering to the growing number of visitors and eliminating long waiting times during busy periods.
2. Enhanced accessibility: We are committed to inclusivity, and the renovated facility will meet accessibility standards, featuring wheelchair-accessible stalls, grab bars, and improved signage to facilitate ease of use for all individuals.
3. Improved hygiene: To prioritise hygiene, the upgraded facility, as far as possible, will include touchless fixtures, automatic flushing systems, and sensor-operated faucets, minimising contact and ensuring a clean and sanitary environment for everyone.
4. Modernised design: The new design will incorporate a modern aesthetic that harmonises with the park’s natural surroundings. The use of sustainable materials and energy-efficient solutions will further align the facility with our commitment to environmental stewardship.
Geness said construction is scheduled to commence during the second half of 2023, and is expected to be completed this year. “During this period, we apologise for any inconvenience caused and kindly request your patience and understanding as we work diligently to create an exceptional park experience for all,” said Geness.
Foundation spearheads women, girls’ protection at parks
Foundation chairman urges community to keep James and Ethel Gray Park clean
James and Ethel Gray Park ablution facilities to be upgraded
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) –FOCUSING on increased safety and security of women and girls in urban recreational spaces, a partnership between a non-profit organisation and the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) has emerged a blueprint for modern joint urban park management.
The James and Ethel Gray Park Foundation (JEGPF) and JCPZ are part of this partnership that bolsters the safety and security of park users, especially women and children.
The pragmatic approach follows extensive research by the partnership, with an emphasis on the physical characteristics of the park.
Foundation chairman urges community to keep James and Ethel Gray Park clean
Foundation chairman urges community to keep James and Ethel Gray Park clean
Foundation chairman urges community to keep James and Ethel Gray Park clean
MELROSE – The local loved James and Ethel Gray Park is up to standard thanks to over 100 volunteers and stakeholders.
The James and Ethel Gray Park has been getting a lot of tidying up recently and chairman of the James and Ethel Gray Park Foundation Sunil Geness asked residents to maintain the good trend.
“The most important aspect of this Women’s Month is for all park users to contribute to the sustainability and maintenance of the park. We know most people will exercise or walk their dogs at the park this Women’s Day weekend, therefore, we would like to ask, especially men, that while they do so, to collect trash bags by our gazebo and pick up litter in the park as a gesture in kind,” Geness said.
Park is now much safer
Safety of Women in Johannesburg Parks Initiative hailed
Foundation chairman urges community to keep James and Ethel Gray Park clean
Rosebank Killarney Gazette --- James and Ethel Gray Park now has a fence with 24-hour security, beefing up safety in the park for all residents and park users.
The formal unveiling of the recently completed project took place on October 27 with the support of Johannesburg Executive Mayor Mpho Moerane.
This project was an initiative of City Parks, James and Ethel Gray Foundation, Birdhaven Ratepayers Association, Melrose North Ratepayers Association, Amdec, and Cochrane fencing.
In his speech, Moerane praised the chairperson of the James and Ethel Gray Foundation, Sunil Geness, for establishing a partnership between business, government and the community.
In addition to infrastructure improvements in the park, 24-hour security staff members have been assigned to the park, and regular river and park clean-ups have been scheduled to increase volunteer interaction and to encourage park ownership.
Geness, who also resides in the area, said, "Johannesburg City Parks Zoo continues to make the city of Johannesburg a liveable city by actively partnering with community organisations and resident associations to provide open spaces in which people can relax, play and
MMC for Community Development Margaret Arnolds and Mrs South Africa 2021 finalist Farrah Rymer plant a tree in James and Ethel Gray Park.
enjoy the great outdoors."
He added, "I could not believe what was happening in the park before. There was trash all over the place, people living in the park, and overgrown trees, so we decided to have a dialogue with the homeless and work towards adopting the park."
Also present at the unveiling were MMC for Community Development Margaret Arnolds, Mrs South Africa 2021 finalist Farrah Rymer and Ward 74 councillor Dave Fisher.
The park is named after the early Johannesburg historians, James and Ethel Gray, and is situated in the affluent suburb of Birdhaven.
Safety of Women in Johannesburg Parks Initiative hailed
Safety of Women in Johannesburg Parks Initiative hailed
Safety of Women in Johannesburg Parks Initiative hailed
By Dumisani Sigogo = After extensive research, the James and Ethel Gray Park Foundation(JEGPF), in partnership with the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ), have developed a pragmatic approach to strengthen the safety and security efforts for all park users, especially for women and children.
The drive, that harnesses the services of volunteers, supporters and park users is aimed at making parks and other public recreational spaces safe and user friendly for women and girls in South Africa due to the fact that the country already suffers the higher rates of femicide and rape in the world.
The JEGPF campaign coincided with Women’s Day, an important day in the month of August, marked as Women’s Month, which is used to raise awareness about important issues that affect women, celebrate their achievements as well as uplift them.
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY, 5 JUNE 2020
For immediate release
JAMES AND ETHEL GRAY PARK FOUNDATION APPEALS TO PARK-USERS, GREATER JOHANNEBSURG RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES TO SUPPORT EFFORTS TO ENHANCE THE SAFETY, SUSTAINABILITY AND UTILITY OF THE FLAGSHIP JAMES AND ETHEL GRAY PARK, ON WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY, 5 JUNE 2020
Johannesburg, 5 June 2020. Less than a year prior to World Environment Day 2020, the James and Ethel Gray Park, in Johannesburg, South Africa was in a derelict condition. The park was characterised by limited community utilisation, non-biodegradable waste and litter strewn across the length and breadth of the park, physical attacks on park-users, a spate of murders, regular illegal entry of commercial vehicles and an increase in home invasions adjacent to the park. The park has since undergone a significant positive transformation since the inception of the James and Ethel Gray Park Foundation (JEGPF).
The Foundation was launched on 10 September 2019, as a partnership involving the Melrose North Residents and Ratepayers Association (MNRRA) and Birdhaven Residents Association (BRA), in partnership with the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) and the City of Johannesburg. The vision- to support the safety and sustainability of the park.
Over the past 10 months, the Foundation has steadily made progress towards the improvement of the park’s infrastructure, upkeep and protection. The signature programmes implemented include the installation of Cochrane ClearVu perimeter fencing, the provision of regular park guarding, rehabilitation of the park dam as well as regular park clean-ups, grass cutting, litter cleaning and waste-removal, which has served to augment the JCPZ scheduled maintenance programme. Community utilisation has increased exponentially, bolstered by events such as a “Zumbathon”, and joint, planned cleaning efforts with learners from surrounding schools, prior to the COVID-19 lockdown. The work of the Foundation has been increasing in reach across far-flung geographies, with New York’s Central Park Conservancy offering to provide best-practice knowledge and guidance to the JEGPF.
Speaking at the time of the launch, City of Johannesburg Ward 74 Councillor, David Fisher said that “the park is classified as a flagship park, by the City and it is vital that we preserve and protect our open green spaces. The park plays an important part in preserving the ecology of the area considering that the Bird Park with its dam and wetland is home to a large variety of birds. This park also supports a lot of other wild life such as insects, frogs and small mammals.”
Chairperson of the Foundation, Sunil Geness said that “ to date 75% of the park perimeter fencing on the Northern side of the M1 has been concluded, but the Foundation requires further funding support from park-users, Johannesburg residents, local and international businesses located in Johannesburg as well as local and global foundations, to meaningfully support the sustainability of the thirty six(36) hectare park, which essentially acts a giant lung to the city. The additional donor funds will be utilized for the conclusion of payments for the current fencing and bolster the completion of the remaining 25% of the fencing project.” Geness concluded that “programmes of the JEGPF provide pragmatic mechanisms of achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and the theme of World Environment Day 2020- time for nature- through modern urban park management practices. The latter having been clearly demonstrated recently, when local residents and visitors flocked to the park as soon as COVID-19 lockdown level three (3) regulations took effect, in South Africa”.
City of Johannesburg Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Environment and Infrastructure Services, Councillor Mpho Moerane said that “the work undertaken by organizations like the James and Ethel Gray Park Foundation, were vital to the utility, safety and sustainability of our diverse biodiversity, and should be commended and supported by all stakeholders”. He added that “this year’s World Environment Day will be celebrated under the theme ‘Biodiversity’ to make a plea for urgent action to protect biodiversity. It is also to put the spotlight on nature, with the emphasis on restoring the relationship between humans and nature.”
Donations to the James and Ethel Gray Park Foundation NPC, can be made at NedbankAccount number, 1188780247, Branch Code 19660500, Melrose Arch Branch, Swift Code NEDSZAJJ, Reference your full name/business name and email your details to info@jamesandethelgrayparkfoundation.org to receive your PBO certificate. You can also find our snapscan details at: https://jamesandethelgrayparkfoundation.org/
About the James and Ethel Gray Park Foundation:
The Foundation is a Non-Profit Company(NPC) incorporated under certificate number 2019/037318/08 issued by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission(CIPC) under South Afrian Law and a South African Revenue Services(SARS) approved Public Benefit Organisation (PBO number 930066624). The Foundation has been established as an initiative of the Melrose North Residents and Ratepayers Association (MNRRA) and Birdhaven Residents Association (BRA), in partnership with the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) and the City of Johannesburg. It is focused on the safety and sustainability of the James & Ethel Gray Park.
Get in Touch with Us
Website: https://jamesandethelgrayparkfoundation.org/.
Email: info@jamesandethelgrayparkfouundation.org
Social Media: @JEGPF
Contact: Sunil Geness, +27833040864
An Initiative of MNRRA & BRA
In Partnership with
