Saturday’s (22 November) market at Poinsettia Park in Somerset West provided a much-needed boost to the Friends of Poinsettia Park’s fundraising efforts, raising around R10 000.
The initiative forms part of the Friends’ ongoing quarterly fundraising programme, essential for maintaining the park with limited City of Cape Town budget allocation. “We had around 20 vendors, many of them regulars from previous markets,” said committee member Erna Wetzel.
“Unfortunately the heat and wind didn’t attract as many visitors as we had hoped, but we still managed to raise a decent profit. The funds will be used mainly for ongoing maintenance, diesel for our donated lawnmowers to cut grass when the City doesn’t get to it and paying for additional help to water our many recently planted trees. The idea is to create a green haven, and later we plan to develop a ‘magic forest’ similar to the one in Durbanville.
“We have built bridges and a deck at the dam, planted more than 120 trees, cleaned the main dam of alien water plants and installed solar lights for security, most sponsored by community members, though we need at least five more.”
Established five years ago, the Friends of Poinsettia Park works under agreement with the City and in consultation with Ward 15 councillor Gregory Peck. The committee consists of seven core members who coordinate projects while calling on community volunteers for activities such as rubbish collection, weeding and watering.
The park’s most pressing needs include additional solar lights for night-time security, a proper gated fence along the R44 to replace broken fencing that allows vagrant access, wooden park benches with naming opportunities for sponsors and a children’s jungle gym.
The committee urgently requires a storage container for equipment, as tractor lawnmowers currently sit exposed and have suffered malicious damage.
Future plans include expanding the Art Walk from three to 12 boards, providing free exhibition space for local artists, and a multi-use path pending City approval and funding.
Poinsettia Park offers a 3 km walking circuit, catch-and-release fishing, picnic facilities, volleyball court and a boule piste nearing completion, where the Boule Club plays Friday evenings at 18:00 during summer, free and open to all.
The Friends welcome donations of materials, labour and expertise.
๏ฎ Locals interested in volunteering can contact chairperson Steve Prinsloo on 082 921 8135, secretary Erna Wetzel on 082 854 3177 or email [email protected].
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