In 2004 City Parks initiated the Community Parks Maintenance programme, which aims to improve service delivery by creating partnerships with various communities. These partnerships offer people the opportunity to take greater ownership of Public Open Spaces in their neighbourhoods.

The aim of the programme is to facilitate active job creation and horticultural skills development in those communities where unemployment is a grave concern. Use of best practices will hopefully reduce vandalism and illegal dumping and will ensure sustainability.

City Parks hopes that the involvement of the community will instil a sense of worthiness and pride and improve the conditions in which they are living.This concept continues to grow in popularity and support.

Today 114 people are employed on a contract basis to maintain their neighbourhood parks through the Programme, and a further 38 parks are maintained on a voluntary basis by a further 59 volunteers.