PUPILS at the Athlone School for the Blind have reason to smile – they have a park especially made for them.
The park between Berol Street and Beroma Crescent in Bellville is close to the school.
The City spent R1.1 million constructing the facility, with special features like a scented garden and acoustic way- finding to assist children with limited or no vision to orientate themselves. To make access easier for blind and visually impaired children, dropped kerbs and tactile paving have been fitted along two roads leading to the park.
The park has swings and jungle gyms like most other play areas, but has been constructed so that children with limited vision, or no sight, can find their way between the different play areas.
Low-seating walls cutting across the park assist with acoustic way-finding, as echoes enable children to determine their location through hearing the sound of feet and walking sticks reverberate off the walls.
There is also a goal ball court, enclosed with a fence and seating walls, for games played by blind people, as well as a games court, trees and lawn for picnics and informal games.
Partially sighted Zimi Tsuie, an 11-year-old Grade 5 pupil from Khayelitsha, described the park as being very nice.
“We started playing there last Friday and we enjoyed ourselves,” he said.
Totally blind Grade 4 pupil Anginikile Ndasane, 10, from Colesberg, a boarder at the school, said he felt happy when playing in the park.
School principal Fletcher Fisher said its 320 blind and visually impaired children will be supervised by teachers and partially sighted colleagues at the park.
“It’s the first time they can run around without fear. When they fall it will be on rubberised surfaces.
"We are grateful to the City for making it inclusive to our children to feel welcome in this Glenhaven area and to interact with this community.”
The park was constructed by the City’s transport authority, Transport for Cape Town.
Mayco member for transport Brett Herron said an extensive relief mural has been installed on the seating walls.
“We were told small interventions make the world’s difference for those without eyesight when they have to move around in outdoor spaces.
"I am confident that it will be used and enjoyed by all of the children from the local community.”