Park revival unites community in Gqeberha, South Africa

Volunteers and local businesses in Gqeberha, South Africa, are working with the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality to restore St George’s Park, the city’s oldest public park.

For years, the park suffered from neglect, vandalism, and a reputation for criminal activity, leading to the disrepair of facilities like a public pool and sports fields.

Over the past three years, groups like the Friends of St George’s Park have partnered with the city to improve security, clean up grounds, and host events to draw visitors. The municipality has invested in security upgrades, including new fencing, and conducts monthly maintenance. The Friends group also collaborates with a local homeless shelter to improve safety.

They’ve successfully increased park usage through events like weekly Park Runs and art exhibitions, bringing over 1,500 people to the Pearson Conservatory in December 2025. As local government elections approach, the Democratic Alliance party pledged R100-million towards further revamping the park, envisioning it as a “Central Park” for Gqeberha. André Theron of the Friends of St George’s Park hopes to keep the project free from political influence, emphasizing the park’s importance as a shared community space.

The municipality acknowledges the collaborative efforts and plans to assess the cost of restoring the swimming pool, which has suffered extensive damage from theft and neglect.