Visually impaired kids have given the City’s first ever blind-friendly park a big thumbs up.
Yesterday learners from the Athlone School for the Blind played merrily on swings and ran around the park shortly after City officials officially opened the facility in Bemora, in Bellville South.
The park was built by the City’s Transport department which spent R1.1 million from its budget to “transform this square of sandy land into an inviting playground”.
Mayoral Committee Member for Transport Councillor Brett Herron says all children can play in the park.
“(But) we have designed the park with special needs in mind and with the intention of giving these children the opportunity to interact with other children who are not visually impaired.
“We have divided the park into smaller play areas, to assist with navigation; we have created a scented garden with indigenous plants such as lavender, wild garlic and rosemary.”
Grade 5 learner Nikwa Boyo, 11, is looking forward to going back to play.
“I like that it is close to our school and we can come here and play. I have gone to other parks before but this one feels nice. I’m not scared of falling, the ground feels like a sponge,” she giggles.
The school’s principal, Fletcher Fisher, 58, says his children will now have another safe area, outside of the school, to play.