DRIVING fORCES IN PARKS

• The driving force of this phenomenon results directly from past planning policies, where the northern parts of the metropolitan area were provided with maintained parks and recreational spaces, whilst the poorer southern areas had a deficiency of such facilities. Whilst Greater Johannesburg has the highest percentage of trees in an urban area, this is only evident in the northern areas. The relatively undeveloped southern areas however have much untapped potential in terms of the utilisation of land for environmental recreational purposes.
• The south has very few structured parks and recreational spaces, due to the fact that the creation and development of such spaces were not given much priority in the past.
• The eastern and western parts of the metropolitan area have a number of natural features such as lakes, pans and ridges that add to their natural space resources. These areas are relatively adequately provided with open space facilities unlike the south where the problem is worse.
• Safety and security problems in parks in various parts of the metropolitan area also result in their under-utilisation (NMLC: LDO, 1997). Many parks in the area are not well maintained and need to be improved.
• The increased population growth and rate of development has the effect of placing growing pressure on the existing parks in the area.

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