James and ethel gray park foundation

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.