While community parks ought to be safe and functioning, most in Windhoek have been turned into hotspots for criminal activities, and are no longer safe for children and adults alike.

This is the consensus which could be deduced through various interactions with community members around the capital, who argue that the City of Windhoek has neglected them.

New Era Online headed out to  a few community parks to view their state, and engaged with community members to have an understanding of how they feel about these areas.

The community members made suggestions on how better the parks could be upgraded in order to make them more welcoming and friendlier for the residents of continually-growing communities.

One of them was Donkerhoek resident Linekela Naukushu (27).

“It would have been nice if we had a gym park. I feel it would reduce the amount of time our children would spend in other neighbourhoods, which is parents’ greatest concern,” Naukushu said. 

Another member of the community, Petrina Mutumbulwa (28), echoed similar sentiments.

“We do not recognise the park anymore; it is not the same safe space that we grew up in. The whole area is covered in stones that end up hurting our little ones’ feet. More top soil or even grass will help create a safer playing space for our children. There are also handicapped people who will need a passageway because they can’t roll their wheelchairs on stones,” the resident lamented. 

Residents said the parks remain fundamental areas and locations for the whole neighbourhood, especially children and the youth, to have as a place for their physical, social and mental well-being rather than resorting to alcohol and drug abuse, amongst other illicit activities.

All in all, with the rate at which the world is rapidly changing and developing and as the need for modernisation arises, the need for properly-facilitated community parks is essential for providing spaces where people can share diverse cultural experiences and strengthen community bonds, various community members opined.

Efforts to get comment from City officials have hit a brickwall, as questions sent to their communications department more than two weeks ago remain unanswered.

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