Cape Town’s CBD is getting a makeover, thanks to volunteers turning neglected corners into inviting spaces where people can pause, rest and escape the rush of the city.
Cape Town CBD / Zoë Reeve / Unsplash
The Green Squad, led by Mission for Inner City Cape Town, has grown from more than 50 volunteers to 140 in 18 months. Together, they have planted 2,100 plants and 35 trees across the inner city.
But keeping these spaces alive takes more than planting a few flowers. Some planters have been stolen or damaged, forcing the team to replant them as many as four times.
Rather than give up, the initiative has worked to involve people who use these spaces daily, including delivery-bike riders and those who spend time in nearby squares. The aim is to give the community a role in caring for it’s surroundings.
More than just a pretty space
The project aims to make the CBD somewhere people want to spend time, not just pass through. Seating, lighting, public art and planted areas can help busy streets feel more welcoming.
For urban gardener David Moses, the work also means creating places where people can sit, read a book or take a break from the working day.
Cape Town’s dry summers make maintaining the planters a challenge. Regular watering and covering the soil to retain moisture help keep the plants healthy. Moses maintains more than 58 planters daily, using a specially designed mobile watering unit to reach areas without street-level water outlets.
It’s a reminder that these projects need more than an initial planting effort. They rely on consistent care, resources and people willing to put in the work.
A shared responsibility
The initiative is also looking to bring businesses on board. At an Inner City Voices: Green Edition gathering, property developers and greening advocates discussed ways to support future projects. One developer offered to sponsor irrigation for a planned pocket park on Lower Long Street.
The broader goal is to build a shared sense of responsibility for Cape Town’s public spaces, with residents and businesses helping to maintain them.
Planting trees will not solve every challenge facing the CBD, but small changes can make a difference to how people experience the city. Sometimes, a more welcoming urban space starts with a patch of shade and somewhere to stop for a moment.
Source (Cape Times)
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