City of Johannesburg

Johannesburg Development Agency

No 3 Helen Joseph Street PO Box 61877 Tel +27(0) 11 688 7851 (O)
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Newtown 2107 E-mail: info@jda.org.za
Johannesburg, 2000

www.jda.org.za
www.joburg.org.za
To: All news editors
For immediate release
08 October 2019

GILFILLAN PARK COMMENDED AT ILASA AWARDS 2019

The design of Gilfillan Park (also known as Jeppe Park) received a commendation for
excellence in urban design at the Institute for Landscape Architects for South Africa (ILASA)
awards 2019. Implemented by the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA), the park was
designed by kwpCREATE, who were appointed as urban designers on the project.

The JDA worked together with Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo (JCPZ) in the
implementation of the project. The construction of the park began in December 2017 and
was completed in June 2018. The upgrade of the park emerged from a need for a
functional, multi-purpose public space amidst the dense streets, office blocks, apartments
and schools surrounding the site.

Directors
M Ntanga (Chairperson) D Cohen (Acting CEO) S Moonsamy (CFO) S Jensma TG Sambo JW Karuri -Sebina EF Peters K Govender A Steyn P Zagaretos R Shirinda (Company Secretary)
Registration Number: 2001/005101/07
The park was upgraded and re-designed in conjunction with local residents through
extensive stakeholder engagement to ensure that the community gives inputs of the
outcome of the final designs and co–produced to meet these outstanding local needs.

Besides the park primarily catering for residents in Jeppestown and the surrounding areas
of Maboneng and Troyeville, there are five stakeholder groups who make regular use of
Jeppe Park. These are namely schools in the area, church groups, amateur league soccer
players, ngoma dance off contenders and Jeppe Men’s Hostel social clubs.

DKPB were appointed main contractor, and landscape architects, kwpCREATE, were
involved from the start of the project in order to interpret the community’s use of the space
into a design that speaks to a functional park, whilst enhancing its previous uses, and to
provide play areas for children of all ages.

The scope of works for the project included bulk earthworks for the formation of the
platforms on site, landscaping (including tree planting), installation of the irrigation line,
grass, street furniture, lighting, bollards and outdoor gym equipment, construction of two
drinking fountains, concrete sports field and running track.

The upgrade of the park also played a role in job creation and skills development, with 30%
of the contract value being awarded to SMME’s in Ward. The contractor employed five
SMME’s and utilised 39 local labourers for the construction of the park.

“Gilfillan Park is an important open space that also provides the community with a safe
environment that promotes a healthy lifestyle. The park is designed to meet the needs of
inner city residents who live in high-rise buildings, providing them with access to spaces for
recreation and relaxation,” MMC for Development Planning Reuben Masango said.

“Gilfillan Park being commended at the ILASA awards shows how extensive stakeholder
engagement can be used to create design solutions that benefit and improve the lives of
residents in a positive manner,” MMC Masango said.

Ends

Issued by:
Johannesburg Development Agency
Susan Monyai
Email: smonyai@jda.org.za