Joburg landscapes ahead of soccer World Cup

Johannesburg has been landscaping pavements and traffic islands to beautify the city ahead of the expected influx of tourists for the FIFA World Cup in June.

Designed by landscaper Jan du Plessis, the roadside gardens are made up of various pebbles and low-maintenance plants such as succulents and aloes. In all, 25 sites across Joburg have been included in the beautification upgrades, a public-private partnership between the City and ADreach, the outdoor media company.

These roadside gardens were designed with the aim of welcoming tourists through impressive gateways, which reflect a clean and successful 21st century, noted Jacqui Khourie, the public relations officer for ADreach.

According to Jenny Moodley, the City Parks spokesperson, the utility partnered with ADreach as the company was keen on beautifying Joburg's pavements and traffic islands as part of its 2010 contribution. This involved finding the right environmentally friendly flowers that would not obstruct the company's billboards.

The partnership was a cost-effective venture and accelerated the beautification process, which was environmentally friendly and aesthetically pleasing.

"Numerous criteria were considered in the selection of the initial 25 sites," said Brent Herbert, the joint chief executive officer of the ADreach Group, the company responsible for the upgrade implementation.

These upgraded sites include:

* Along 5th Street, from Grayston to Fredman streets, in Sandton;
* Along Beyers Naude Drive from Northumberland to Swart streets, and from Molope to Jim Fouche streets, in Northriding;
* Along Cedar Road from Fourways to Uranium streets, in Fourways ;
* Along Judges Avenue from Arbor to Republic roads, in Randburg;
* Along Kathrine Street from Grayston Drive to Weirda Road, in Sandton;
* Along Main Road, from Sloan Street to Bryanston Drive, from Grosvenor Road to Norman Street and from Bryanston Drive to Post House, in Bryanston;
* Along Maliongwe from Swart to Oxford streets, from Oxford to Lyn streets and from Lyn Street to Hans Schoeman Drive, in Randburg;
* Along Ontdekkers Road, from Swart Street to Ruhamah Drive and from Ruhamah Drive to Sonop Street, in Helderkruin;
* Along Rivonia Road, from Outspan to Centre streets, in Sandton;
* Along Sandton Drive, from Marie Street to Grayston Drive, in Sandton;
* Along William Nicol Drive, from Wedgelink to Main roads, from Mattie Road to Sandton Drive, from Sandton Drive to Stirling Road, from Stirling to 2nd roads and from 2nd Road to Jan Smuts Avenue, in Sandton; and
* Along Ysterhout Road, from Boschkop Avenue to President Fouche Road, in Randburg.

"Key locations with highest visibility and impact in terms of the World Cup were prioritised. Those on route to stadiums, training venues, tourist nodes and the like have received precedence," commented Herbert.

"It is a practical impossibility to immediately upgrade each and every location across the city, but this exciting initiative, for which the World Cup has been a catalyst, marks the start of improvements that will transform Joburg into a world-class city."

Another 13 sites were being chosen and approved for upgrading, which would be completed before the football tournament began, he said.

Johannesburg City Parks manages the city's parks, cemeteries, open green areas, street trees and conserved spaces, including pavements. As part of the initiative, ADreach and City Parks had agreed to work hand in hand to ensure that the gardens were kept in excellent condition, Herbert explained.

The ADreach Group has more than 40 000 advertising signs across South Africa, making it the third largest outdoor media organisation in the country.

Read more: http://www.joburg.org.za/content/view/4745/266/#ixzz0d8Gfk7US

Posted at 08:00AM Jan 20, 2010 by Editor in Market  |  Comments[2]