Work on the upgrading and reconfiguration of the Green Point Common into the Green Point Urban Park (sports precinct and public park) that will surround the 2010 FIFA World Cup stadium is well underway.
When the project is complete in early March 2010, the Common will feature improved public transport infrastructure (Vlei Road, Granger Bay Boulevard and the access link abutting the Virgin Active complex) a sports precinct that will accommodate rugby, soccer, cricket, tennis, athletics, golf and bowls, and a 12,5-hectare public park (Green Point Park) for residents and visitors.
The City has budgeted R311 million for the work, and another R30 million has been set aside to upgrade the Mouille Point beachfront and promenade.
[ad#Google Adsense 125×125 Blog Post]Besides serving as the context for the FIFA World Cup Stadium (which together with its precinct only takes up 18 hectares), the Urban Park will provide Cape Town’s citizens, visitors and tourists with a world class inner city public amenity, that caters for events, sports, heritage, leisure and relaxation in a landscaped space.
It will also offer a public social space system (incorporating the Beachfront, Public Park, stadium forecourt and pedestrian link through to the historic Fort Wynyard and V&A Waterfront) linked to a public transport system serving the city bowl and environs.
In support of the 2010 Green Goal programme, the City is currently investigating the possibility of accommodating an Eco Centre in the Park after the tournament next year. If this proves to be feasible, a state-of-the-art ‘Green Building’ that provides a range of educational and environmental programmes will be built.
As part of the legacy left by the FIFA World Cup, the overall theme of the Park will be the promotion of ‘green’ and sustainable living habits in the city. In support of this, all irrigation water for the Park will be sourced from underground springs located in Oranjezicht. These will be used to irrigate the Park (including the Metropolitan Golf Course) throughout the year.
The new Stadium Operator, a consortium of Stade de France and local sports marketing company SAIL Group, will be responsible for managing the 18 hectare Stadium forecourt.and Green Point Park and ensure the ongoing sustainability thereof.
Martin Pollack
