| DURBAN SOUTH AFRICA |
| INSPIRATION ON THE ISI'BUBULUNGU COAST |
| 'How Long' Park One of the first park development projects undertaken by Ethekwini Unicity's Parks Department was in an area of around 50 000 square metres next to the Isipingo River, in Umlazi's Q and U sections. In 1997 the Department helped develop paved pathways, swings, umbrellas and formal planting. But the conception and launch of this project came out of the dream and passionate determination of one man - Michael Mlangeni - to create an entire park, single-handedly and with minimal resources. Mlangeni was born at Mkhumbane in 1947, but raised by his aunt and grandmother in Ongoye, where he studied to Standard Eight. On returning to Durban, he stayed with an uncle in Umlazi until he married - all the while wishing that Umlazi and other townships could have parks like those of Durban's privileged communities, where families could come for picnics and wedding pictures, or just to relax. Michael's inspiration came as far back as 1976, from a dream in which his grandmother instructed him to remain where he was living, and 'clean the park'. Lacking any horticultural education, tools or financial support, he expressed his reluctance to this grandmother, but found that she turned a deaf ear, simply insisting that he do something. In the beginning Michael's efforts were hindered by a lack of money and tools - both had to be borrowed, and only his wife helped him. Then, in 1982, the Natal Mercury took notice, and offered help: He was given a set of gardening tools, and never looked back. The only donation he received in the initial stages was $800 from the US Government, and contributions from tourists, but these encouraged him to persevere with his dream. Worried about being unemployed, he had to work part-time in order to be able to spend four hours a day working on the park. In 1997 Michael won a Mayor's A ward, with a prize of R6 000 and a computer. After meeting Parks horticulturist Grahame Steel and Councillor Mhlongo in the same year, he established a working relationship with the Department, which employed him from August 1998. He lived on the property while working there, with a shack sufficing until he completed a stone hut boasting all the rustic features an eco-tourist could want. After articles about him and his initiative appeared in the Mercury and in Bona and Pace magazines, people became interested in his work, and started asking him how long they would have to wait before they got their park - hence the name 'How Long Park' ... Perhaps surprisingly, no vandalism was inflicted on How Long Park during its development it stands as a testament to community pride as well as hope and personal initiative: in the results of Michael's commitment, a sense of ownership is plain to view. He cares for the park seven days a week, hardly ever taking leave "because plants do not take leave" ... His new dream is to have a small library in How Long Park, so that children can learn in a relaxed atmosphere. The message of Michael Mlangeni to Durban's communities is movingly straightforward: "People must love nature, because they can't survive without it, though nature can survive without them. And people must learn to work for the benefit of the whole community not just for themselves". |
| How Long Park - Umlazi - Durban - South Africa |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |