MAURICE FREEMAN PARK

Project description: Situated within a trio of Inner City Parks bordering on the Ellis Park Sports Precinct, Maurice Freeman Park was in urgent need of an upgrade. This park had been usurped for illegal soccer gambling games, resulting in a dangerous environment for the public, particularly children. The Johannesburg Development Agency’s original brief was to upgrade this park into a multi-functional facility, with an emphasis on soccer facilities. From design to completion, this upgrade was to take place within a fast tracked time frame of only 10 months.

Conceptuals were tabled, followed by an intensive public participation process, resulting in the new concept of a Cricket Oval, the first of its kind in the Inner City. The Johannesburg Cricket Club (JCC) urgently required a home ground for the local community and as part of their upliftment programme for inner city children; an Academy Level Oval was designed. Pitch construction was to international standards, and included a five lane table. The facility includes six practice nets, two constructed of bulli and four of artificial turf mat. The landscape design allowed for the creation of berms/undulations which would be used as spectator seating. The participation of the JCC ensured ownership of the project, as well as future sustained maintenance.