Sandton Park Environmental Project, An Oasis Among the Cement

Green belts, urban forests, green environmental projects and parks add a certain value to both communities and the environment in which they live in. They provide a haven for families and communities and enable them to be out in nature whilst living in an urban jungle surrounded by cement. Johannesburg is a rapidly growing city and the central business district of Sandton is ever rising. Buildings and developments are springing up all over the area which has its considerable benefits but disadvantages too. There is the decrease of vegetation and wildlife which reinforces pollution and the surrounding carbon footprint. Sticking true to one of the city of Johannesburg’s claims to fame that it boasts the biggest urban forest in the world; a new environmental project has been created, a green lung district and green belt in its own right.

To counteract Sandton’s rapidly growing and evolving center, an environmental project has been development in the form of the Sandton Central Park Project. The environmental project took five years to complete and as it neared its completion at the end of 2011, a ceremony was held to celebrate its completion. Khan Morbee of the South African Rock group Parlotones acted as an ambassador for CarbonWorx, one of the primary sponsors of this South African environmental project   along with Standard Bank and planted an indigenous wild olive tree. CEO of CarbonWorx, Mark Smith as well as members of the Sandton central management district were present for the special occasion. The Sandton Central Park project, a prominent force in community environmental projects, will provide a much needed oasis in the heart of Sandton. The environmental project will alleviate the surrounding areas carbon footprint, create a surge of oxygen, provide environmental sustainability, reduce pollution and form part of a community based destination for the residents in the surrounding areas. The Sandton central park project, a great among environmental project ideas, will offer natural 'landscape seating areas situated under, along with 'special places' such as an area set aside for children, game infrastructure, and meditation areas. Different environmental project ideals have been utilized in various businesses in Sandton in the form of recycling initiatives and solar water geysers just adding to the areas environmentally holistic approach.

In such a business and corporate infused area, it is amazing to see such environmental projects making an appearance. The district of Sandton is noting their environmental responsibility and the creation of Sandton’s central park project will see the leaders and residents of the area taking a stride in the right green direction. The park will be open to the public in the next following month.