mime-version: 1.0 date: Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:13:40 +0200 content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable content-location: http://web.capetown.gov.za/eDocuments/city_parks_news_grass_cutting_2610200712127_.htm x-mimeole: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2180 from: subject: Grass Cutting, Sept 2007 content-type: text/html; charset="utf-8" =EF=BB=BF Grass Cutting, Sept 2007
City Parks News, September= =20 2007
Grass Cutting
MEDIA RELEASE NO. /2007
SEPTEMBER 2007

With= the=20 coming of spring, the challenge of managing the rapid growth of gras= s and=20 weeds has always created a dilemma for the City Parks department. Th= is=20 year the challenge is far greater as a result of the extremely wet w= eather=20 experienced in the Western Cape during the past winter.

Above= =20 average rainfall has caused prolific growth of all plants. Grass and= weeds=20 thrive under these conditions and, almost overnight, parks and sidew= alks=20 can start looking unkept.

In addition to this, the annual spr= ing=20 flowers are making their appearance in various public open spaces an= d open=20 tracts of land within the city. This, sometimes causes contention = =E2=80=93 should=20 the areas be mowed or should the wild flowers be left undisturbed fo= r the=20 enjoyment of residents?

Many residents in and visitors to the= areas=20 where the flowers occur, contend that they should be left untouched = and=20 not mowed until the seeds have ripened and dropped. It must be empha= sised=20 that this results in the grass eventually dominating the flowers. = =E2=80=9CThe=20 City Parks department normally curtails the mowing of certain areas = during=20 the flowering period to allow them to bloom and shed their seeds,=E2= =80=9D says=20 Christa le Roux, Director: City Parks. =E2=80=9CParks managers try t= o find a happy=20 medium, weighing up their knowledge of the relevant areas and the de= mands=20 of a sometimes impatient public and trying to achieve a pragmatic=20 compromise.=E2=80=9D

After the flowers have gone, the City Pa= rks department=20 is left with numerous stands of long, unsightly grass, which results= in=20 parks and sidewalks looking unkempt and creates significant mowing=20 backlogs.

The department has employed external contractors to= =20 reduce the mowing backlog and, accordingly, City Parks appeals to=20 residents to be patient. It is committed to service delivery and, un= der=20 the circumstances, all efforts are being made to keep parks and side= walks=20 tidy and properly maintained.

Concerns about uncut grass in p= arks=20 or sidewalks can be directed to the City Parks general call centre n= umber=20 (021) 400 3439.

END ISSUED BY:
DIRECTORATE:=20 COMMUNICATION
CITY OF CAPE TOWN
TEL: 021 400 2201

MEDIA= =20 QUERIES:
CHRISTA LE ROUX
DIRECTOR: CITY PARKS
TELEPHONE: 02= 1:=20 4004304
MOBILE: 084: 629 3330
=C2=A9 City of Cape Town 20= 01 - 2007=20