Johannesburg City Parks (NPC), a section 21 company with the City of Johannesburg as sole stakeholder, was set up in November 2000 to manage the city’s parks, cemeteries, open green areas, street trees and conserved spaces.
As custodian of 22 278 hectares of open space and green areas, City Parks’s aim is for a greener environment for the present community and future generations. It is committed to upholding and maintaining Johannesburg’s “green crown” and it will continue to manage the parks portfolio in a manner ensuring Johannesburg remains one of the greenest cities in the world.
Chris Vondo, the mayoral committee member for community development, is responsible for overseeing City Parks.
Johannesburg City Parks is committed to the principles of the Joburg's Growth and Development Strategy. Special focus is given to job creation, skills development and spatial planning as envisaged in the Johannesburg Metropolitan Open Space Strategy. Job creation is addressed through the Expanded Public Works Programme.
Download the City Parks organogram [PDF, 44kb]
Zoo Lake: Even though Zoo Lake is generally busy with joggers, skateboarders, children and amblers, you can still find a number of quiet spots to enjoy a secluded, undisturbed picnic.
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Thokoza Park: Incorporating Moroka Dam, this park has reclaimed its pristine status of being a prime attraction of Rockville in Soweto. The park covers 4,5 hectares.
Rhodes Park: This modestly sized park is truly great in creative stature. A marvellous mix of stepping stones and railway sleepers leads you through the park - along the lanes, over the waterfalls, through thickets and past beautiful ponds.
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Florida Lake: There are masses of waterfowl on the lake and the adjacent bird sanctuary ensures excellent bird watching.
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The Wilds: Meandering footpaths and walkways lead you through this beautiful area with its abundance of indigenous shrubs, plants and trees.
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Kloofendal Nature Reserve: Kloofendal is a cultural heritage and ecotourism facility. In the Roodepoort suburb of Kloofendal, the 150 hectare reserve was one of the first nature reserves in Joburg and offers urbanites a retreat from city life.
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Rietfontein Nature Reserve is about 24km north of the city in the small suburb of Paulshof. This 25 hectare indigenous green space with its quartzite koppie evokes in all visitors a feeling of being in the country.
Melville Koppies: Follow a footpath through nature leading to a hilltop with panoramic views, see a variety of plants, birds, small mammals and snakes, be exposed to historical sites - all while staying in Joburg.
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Klipriviersberg Nature Reserve, 11km south of Joburg city centre, is a 680 hectare nature reserve, known as "Stone River Mountain".
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Joubert Park is the city’s oldest park, granted by the Volksraad in 1887, and named after the town's first mining commissioner sent to investigate the claims of gold rush fortune seekers.
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Trees are the lifelines of our cities. City Parks’ One Tree at a Time campaign will see the planting of 100 000 indigenous trees in new and developing suburbs, helping to address some of the environmental problems caused by urbanisation.
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Greening Soweto, a 2010 World Cup legacy project, is Joburg’s biggest "greening revolution". More than 300 000 trees in South Africa's biggest township will be planted as part of this project, turning Soweto into an urban forest.
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Unlike Rome, a beautiful community park can be built in a day - and yet last a lifetime. Johannesburg City Parks’ Xtreme Park Makeover project turns dusty, derelict land into a green haven in just 24 hours.
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Through this flagship event, City Parks highlights its determination to create parks that cater for those with disabilities and its commitment to implementing policies, programmes and projects to support access for the disabled.
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World Environment Week aims to encourage people to live sustainably and equitably, to promote awareness and understanding that communities play a central role in changing attitudes towards environmental issues.
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Help Johannesburg turn over a new leaf and become part of this major greening campaign, which will see City Parks plant 200 000 trees in Soweto as part of a 2010 Legacy Project.
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THE six outdoor gyms City Parks has already installed are wildly popular – and more are on the way, promises the new managing director, Bulumko Nelana.
A GROUP of about 200 pupils from primary schools around Johannesburg attended an intensive three-hour lesson on the importance and value of wetlands.
WETLANDS are crucial systems for cleaning polluted water and saving run-off during floods. They play a vital role in nature, and are a focus of conservation.
THERE was an air of excitement at Kremetart Park in Eldorado Park where people came in numbers to take part in a health awareness campaign organised by the City of Joburg.
VEGETATION in Joburg has grown prolifically, thanks to the warm sun and summer rains. This has led to an unavoidable backlog in City Parks maintenance, and residents have been asked to help out by cleaning up their own pavements.
THE Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg Mpho Parks Tau has congratulated the people of Johannesburg for making the 29th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations – which came to a spectacular end on Sunday night a memorable one.
